Iris Langen is a journalism junior and a member of the KCPR content team. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
A rainy matinee at the Palm Theatre was the most perfect setting for the foggy, scenic atmosphere of director Georgia Oakley’s adaptation of “Sense and Sensibility.” If you’re a fan of yearning in the rain, valid crashouts and an abundance of dogs, this movie is right up your alley.
The 2026 film based on the acclaimed Jane Austen novel has a clear focus on the beauty of sisterhood, while still being a classic romantic period piece. The movie follows two sisters whose lives are reshaped by sudden financial uncertainty. They navigate family expectations, societal pressure and complicated romance in Regency-era England.
The costuming and language were so believable and realistic, yet the core plot felt modern, and proved that situationships and mixed signals have been around for centuries.
It inspires one to wear long white gowns despite the weather and learn a formal dance. I loved the casting, costumes and rural setting — although some of the obvious lip filler was a little distracting for a period piece. We need to cut it out with that.
Still, I thought the characters and their relationships were portrayed authentically, and the whole thing felt both true to the novel and was surprisingly relatable. Daisy Edgar-Jones, who plays Elinor Dashwood, was a pinnacle of talent and beauty as always. Fiona Shaw was utterly perfect as Mrs. Jennings (she and her pug were my favorites) and Esmé Creed-Miles was so heart-wrenching and believable as the passionate, emotionally raw Marianne Dashwood. The color palette was much less saturated than Emma Thompson’s 1995 adaption. The muted, grey tones gave the film a more melancholic, earthy feel, contrasting with the usual pageantry and grandeur of a period piece.
The feeling of community was present in the theater, as people laughed at Lady Middleton’s weird weather comments and sighed at John Willoughby. After the screening, I was lucky enough to have a great conversation with fellow matinee-goers outside the theater, which is always a sign of a good movie.
Among them were English teachers and Jane Austen fanatics, who said it was one of the best adaptations of her novels they had seen. We agreed about the amazing casting and realistic protagonists you could root for.
I felt very uplifted by the end of it. Although the movie was two hours and 12 minutes, it was thoroughly engaging throughout. By the end, I had stopped thinking about the Regency-era dialect because of how natural it felt. I left the cozy atmosphere of the Palm in an optimistic mood, wanting to call my sister to gossip.
“Sense and Sensibility” is definitely worth the watch, and the type of movie that becomes magic when seen in theater.
