Directed by Autumn de Wilde
Do we need another Jane Austen Emma? Probably not, but Emma. (note the full stop) is a frothy confection with a winning cast which runs through the plot with ease. The costumes and designs win out over a script that struggles initially to establish the plot and characters. However, from the arrival of Tanya Reynolds as Mrs Elton, the final half takes off as Emma discovers humility and a smouldering romance with Mr Knightly. Compared to the recent David Copperfield film it did seem tame and the ‘updating’ seemed confined to shots of naked bums…
Verdict: Enjoyable but light retelling of the Emma.