Taylor-Joy is a young promising actor(The Witch, Thoroughbreds) but is unable here to strike the necessary comedic balance and comes across mostly narcissistic rather than a balance of self important and charming and thus kind of insufferable, a huge hurtle to overcome given she's the lead. Goth has more charm but the character is both underwritten and played with a two-dimensional vapid goofyness that only has limited traction. Johnny Flynn as Mr. Knightley fares a bit better because his sincerity is clear but his character is also allowed to be more dynamic. Gemma Whelan, as Emma's former governess, is amazing, grounded and playful but is given very little screen time. Bill Nighy seems to be the only one totally comfortable and totally effective, bouncing from humor to drama to wry absurdity fluidly and effortlessly but his role also is limited. Ultimately the cast really doesn't come together, the tone is muddled and with something this specific and stylized that makes the film really languish.
The production design is meticulous and absolutely gorgeous- the period costumes, sets, and beautiful score(with diegetic and non-diegetic music)- create a wonderful world but the adaptation is either too faithful or too lifeless to match the production elements.
It's certainly fair to ask why given how adapted Emma is and how Jane Austen is in general, given a vital function of many of the narrative takes place in a starkly and at times off putting classist milieu. There are successful modern takes- Clueless, Austenland- and period pieces still can be successful- Love & Friendship- unfortunately this version with it's excessive ignorant wealth, even overt disgust of the "poor" and automaton like servants it just fails to meet the bar of if not relevance than at least tolerance.
Available for rent on most VOD platforms.
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