I really liked Martin from the first moment he appeared, and was rooting for him the entire time. I even went into this movie as a JJ Feild fan, and I was STILL charmed by the other guy.
Why does the girl always have to end up with the boring, too-perfect Darcy-esque character? That has to be the most disappointing twist I've ever seen!
Martin turned out to be what he was, a charming actor hired to romance the female clients. Although I think he found Jane an aggreable assignment, I never detected any deep passion for her. As pleasant as it was, being with her was his job.
Nobley, on the other hand, was not an actor, merely drafted by his aunt, probably on short notice, to stand in and 'entertain' Amelia until Captain George East arrived. He was told to mimic Mr. Darcy in haughtiness and pride, which he did quite naturally due to nerves and his feeling out of place most of the time, as he explained to Jane at the ball. I didn't find him too perfect, but rather prickly...until he began to fall for Jane. I love the incremental transition from him as a grump to his happiness and him accidentally telling Jane he 'loved her' in the theatrical. This was no act, but a man falling head over heels in love with a woman who was equally genuine, not to mention quite lovely.
I've re-watched this film several times and, although I enjoy the comedy, I love the scenes with Jane and Henry Nobley. Without these perfectly acted scenes, this film would not be the wonderfully romantic story that it is, imo.
But he was a perfect analogue for another story, Sense and Sensibility. Martin was a kind of Mr. Willoughby, thoroughly charming and accessible and not worth the paper he was printed on. So there you are! Not surprised you felt that way though, Bret McKenzie is completely adorable, and it was such a perfect role for him to branch out in. I didn't know he was in it because I just tossed it in my queue based on constant Netflix recommendations, but we loved Flight of the Conchords and the crack about him getting a job on The Hobbit was hysterical since he has a little fame just as "Figwit" from being a minor elf in the Lord of the Rings movies. But you might know this already...
I really enjoyed this movie, laughed out loud quite a few times. Hope the actors enjoyed making it as much as I did watching it.
It also says something that I was as confused about my feelings for Martin and Henry as Jane was. I couldn't decide who to root for either.
I kind of liked both of them. I totally fell for Martin's ploy myself until about 3/4 in - there was something not right about it. It appeared all along that Nobley liked Jane because of her quirky style; the fact that she wasn't playing a role really - she was herself being Jane. He was expecting her to be like all of the other women that come to it for the pomp and circumstance. That ninja stuff was funny! I felt bad because I knew she had to pick one of them and it was getting a bit afterschool special with Martin; so I am glad she ended up with Nobley. Perfect for someone like her to be with a History Professor - someone who "gets it." Her friend clearly did not.
shareNever read the book. I was really thinking that Martin would turn out to be a millionaire that wanted to experience life as a servant in his "fantasy role".
shareWhen I read the passages from these books I think of Jane Austen. These books came out around her time. There are earlier editions than what is on the site http://socialgracesandsavoirfaire.blogspot.com/2011/09/retro-spective-social-graces-in.html
BTW It's also interesting to note that Gavin de Becker talks about people who are charming in his book Gift of Fear and how you need to ask yourself are they trying to charm me. Either you will get the sense they are harmless or dangerous from asking yourself this question.
Never read the book. I was really thinking that Martin would turn out to be a millionaire that wanted to experience life as a servant in his "fantasy role".
Mr. Wickham was charming as well, but Mr. Darcy was the steady best choice. It parallels the book perfectly.
"They talk of my drinking, but never my thirst."
big turn off for me about Martin was his lack of sincerity. It was just a competition for him, to win out over anyone else rather than a real interest in Jane. It was about his vanity rather than honest feelings or interest. Exactly what she had been dealing with in her real life!
Nobley (and Darcy) is sincere and does not lead women on. Jane only garners his attention because of his interest in her; his sincerity of feeling.
That is why I liked Nobley over Martin, because Nobley is honorable, honest, and true.
Martin didn't care about her, it was all fake!
shareI was also disappointed that Martin ended up being the fake. I thought Jane had better chemistry with him. Her ending up with Nobley just fell short to me. Maybe because there was more build up with Martin. I thought her relationship with Martin was the twist. I should note, that I just discovered the film was based on a book. I had no clue until after I saw the movie.
shareI would have been mad had they gone with Martin as the guy-the-girl-ends-up-with.
I respect that you, and some others have a different opinion than me and you are welcome to that.
But I have to say, I don't understand the perspective.
I thought early on, they were going to go with "Jane goes there for the pomp and circumstance but falls for the so-called normal guy" and have her end up with Martin, but he started rubbing me the wrong way and coming off as arrogant and insincere early on.
For example the music scene where says "the easier the better"? It didn't sound like he was talking just about easy listening there. And then the horse part? I don't know enough about horses or horse birth to know if it happened too fast or the foal was too big (both of which, people have mentioned) but asking for straw? When he was in a stall FULL of straw? That made me think it was fake. I also thought that Amelia's pointed comment about "Three ladies and two gentlemen and no one for Jane" was supposed to be telling the audience that Martin was the "pretend Love Interest" for Jane. (Sure Captain East came and it changed the numbers up but these things and more had made me too suspicious of Martin to turn back)
The actor is cute enough but I don't really understand how people root for his character.
Girl getting with Nobley is just too predictable. End of.
But then again, I'm a writer who constantly tries to write "different" and "unpredictable" and oftentimes I get shot down by readers. So I obviously know nothing.