Love and Friendship is based upon a Jane Austen novella with which I am unfamiliar, “Lady Susan.”  Evidently an early work, it has been adapted into plays before, and now an amusing feature film.  Its primary asset is the character of Lady Susan Vernon, a beautiful widow who calmly plows through delicate Victorian-era society like a bulldozer.  Whit Stillman’s film casts Kate Beckinsale as Lady Susan, providing her with her finest role, and Beckinsale is superb.

Stillman’s film is intricate dialogue, dry wit and smooth performance.  It is rather amusing, but rarely outright funny.  One character, Sir James Martin (Tom Bennett), is an absolute hoot, a landowner with no common sense.  He is easily made fun of by several characters, yet I found him both endearing and rather charming.  If a few other characters in this rather staid comedy were as lively and memorable the film would be both wilder and better.

Perhaps because Lady Susan and Sir James Martin are so well-drawn and beautifully portrayed I had hopes that Love and Friendship would be a more memorable film.  But the film doesn’t allow most of its characters to stand out or cut loose.  Because it hews to the idea of telling its comic story straight and serious no one else makes much of an impression.  It is a fine line needed to avoid parody or spoof, yet I feel that Stillman, who adapted the story to the screen, was not adventurous enough to make this film really soar.

That sounds rather negative, yet I quite enjoyed Love and Friendship.  It is a witty romp that boasts two truly excellent portrayals.  Kate Beckinsale should receive a great deal of acclaim; she is superb.  I certainly recommend it, and hope it receives attention in this season of special effects blockbusters and raunchy comedies.  ☆ ☆ ☆.  5 June 2016.