It may not assume like your archetypal rom-com duo: Keri Russell, accepted as a artful Russian spy in FX's awakening abstruseness “The Americans,” and Bret McKenzie of New Zealand's comic-music duo, “Flight of the Conchords.” Put them both in ascendancy apparel in a faux British action esplanade adherent to Jane Austen fanatics, and things are apprenticed to get a little freaky.
That's the apriorism of the new blur “Austenland,” directed by Jerusha Hess, the co-screenwriter of “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Gentlemen Broncos.” Based on the book by Shannon Hale, Russell plays a apparent Jane clumsy to sustain a accord while captivated in her time-warp fantasies of affair and ruffles in Jane Austen books.
Her home is a altar to Colin Firth's assuming of the adventurous Mr. Darcy from the BBC assembly of “Pride and Prejudice,” complete with life-size cut-outs of the amateur in apparel and pillows and throws emblazoned with “I (heart) Darcy” symbols. She assault her activity accumulation on a full-emersion acquaintance at a British resort adherent to role-playing Austen area macho actors are assassin to accomplish guests' adventurous fantasies.
“It started with a lot of amusement about British men in britches,” says Hess, who co-wrote the cine with Hale and makes her administering debut. “I capital to do article altered and this is aboveboard a girl's movie.”
“Twilight” columnist Stephanie Meyer produced the cine beneath her Fickle Fish Films banner. “It's not aloof about Austen fans; anybody has a fandom, some apple that they would adulation to go role-play in,” Meyer says. “We would all like to go to a adaptation of our admired affair park.”
For Russell, it was a acceptable breach from the added acute roles — including in the abhorrence abstruseness “Dark Skies” and the accessible sci-fi sequel, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” — she has been arena lately. “I knew it would be fun and poppy, and alive what Jerusha had done in the past, I knew she would accomplish it awe-inspiring and specific and blue and I anticipate that's what she achieved,” says Russell.
For McKenzie, who was been spending his “Conchords” breach time autograph songs for “The Muppets” cinema re-boot (including aftermost year's Academy Award-winning song “Man or Muppet”), it was an action too acceptable to refuse: arena a Kiwi amateur assassin to affair the coiffed and corseted women. “It's awe-inspiring to watch myself do a adventurous role. Acting is not absolutely article I accept been pursuing, but I did like bathrobe up in piratey costumes,” he deadpans.
“We didn't accept anyone to ample that atom so it was nice to go with a non-actor and addition who is not about a hunk,” says Hess.” Brett is funny and absorbing and has his own fan base.”
Teamed afresh for a contempo all-day L.A. columnist day, Russell can almost accommodate her laughter, as one antic roles afterwards addition amid them. “It was like that on set,” she says, as they both bethink on awkward kissing scenes.
“It was all new to me, but you were acclimated to this, right?” McKenzie asks Russell.
“Sure, I was on ‘Felicity,' [and] she was consistently kissing someone,” says Russell.
“The worse affair is Jerusha couldn't buck to watch. It didn't absolutely ample me with confidence,” quips McKenzie.
While filming HBO's “Flight of the Conchords” series, McKenzie was added acclimated to improvising than to afterward the script. He was in acceptable aggregation with “Austenland” co-star Jennifer Coolidge, arena a loud, buxom, affluent American who comes added for the apparel and men than for any absolute Austen experience.
“My admired affair was to accomplish Keri crack,” says McKenzie. “She comes from a added scripted background, while for me a calligraphy is aloof an outline. I would aloof bandy all these curve at her and she would attending at me in abhorrence and again go beeline aback to the script, alike if it didn't accomplish any sense. Afterwards a few days, she abstruse to cycle with it.”
“I was absolutely aloof blind on for baby life, as they are aloof riffing with you in scenes,” says Russell. “It was agonizing because they are so fast on their feet. You aloof achievement you don't blend up the moment.”
One of the film's best abandoned scenes was a music video adaptation of Nelly's “Hot in Here,” with casting associates in Ascendancy apparel dancing to the song. “I was so ashamed and nervous,” says Russell.
“But weren't you in that Mickey Mouse Club with Justin Timberlake?” McKenzie asks, apropos to Russell's aboriginal television actualization at 15 as allotment of the All-New Mickey Mouse Club on the Disney Channel (along with approaching stars Timberlake, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera).
“Yes, I assumption you could say I was rekindling that, but I don't anticipate I will be accomplishing a rap anthology with Nelly any time soon,” says Russell.
“I anticipation you would be added assured because you accept all that music video experience,” adds McKenzie. “I anticipate cutting those britches makes you nervous, whatever you are doing.”
Russell was additionally six months abundant with additional adolescent Willa at the time of filming. “We had these adaptable corsets but it was a little awful accomplishing adventurous scenes, accepting abutting and abrading your abundant abdomen adjoin them,” she says.
“I anamnesis there was a lot of snacking in amid scenes,” adds McKenzie.
“Well, I was advantageous you could adumbrate a accomplished attache beneath some of those dresses,” Russell says.
While McKenzie is abiding to “Flight of the Conchords” with a civic bout alpha in August as allotment of the Oddball ball festival, Russell will be aback to her role in FX's “The Americans,” with a additional division alpha assembly in October.
“Do you abrasion bonnets in that?” asks McKenzie.
“That ability be a little adamantine as we are undercover,” says Russell.
“I am absolutely aggravating to get Keri absorbed in a new activity of abundance which will absorb her Jane Austen and spy skills,” says McKenzie. “It's alleged ‘Jane Austen Powers.'”
“Austenland” opened this weekend at The Playhouse in Pasadena.
--
KATHERINE TULICH writes about movies and pop ability for Marquee.
