'The Jane Austen Book Club' isn't yet another sweet costume drama set in 19th century England. But even if it plays out in the California of today, this gentle ensemble piece reveals that not much has changed in the past 200 years. Inspired by Austen’s universal themes of marriage, friendship, social manners and romance, it draws relevant parallels between the author's classic works and the lives of six female friends.

This eclectic group of women and an intriguing male stranger, based on a shared passion for the author, start a book club to help one of them get over a broken marriage. As they work their way through each of Austen’s novels (in no particular order) and dissect the motives and behaviour of her characters, they in turn experience their own set of dramatic life-changing lessons.

Echoing with Austen's beloved narratives, the film is a philosophical exploration of how human nature causes people to miss the most obvious signs when it comes to love and relationships. It also demonstrates how fear of honesty can over-complicate situations, causing them to spiral out of control.

But the film is neither cerebral nor cryptic and doesn't require any Austen knowledge (as the title may imply), although being au fait with the works of the 18th century author does induce a knowing smile through the irony of the romantic tangles and emotional strife that ensue.

Set in Sacramento, the beautiful cinematography effectively embodies the rawness of the emotive story, displaying equally stunning imagery of modern city life and the breathtaking Californian outdoors.

The cast boasts an impressive set of performers — including Maria Bello, Emily Blunt, Kathy Baker, Amy Brenneman, and Maggie Grace — who carry their roles with equal sophistication. A group of weaker actresses would have been a great injustice to the sensitive material that comfortably switches from incredibly painful to delightfully funny throughout.

Fans of the Jennifer Aniston ensemble drama 'Friends With Money' will thoroughly enjoy this offering as the two films share the same overall look and feel. But towards the end, 'The Jane Austen Book Club' errs more on the side of syrupy than raw — a characteristic that places it firmly into the "chick flick" category.