In this made-for-TV adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel, Emma Woodhouse (
Kate Beckinsale) is a clever young woman from a wealthy family who fancies herself a matchmaker and tries to find a husband for her shy friend Harriet (
Samantha Morton). However, Emma's skills in bringing romances together are not all she imagines them to be, which causes no small annoyance for Harriet. What's more, Emma's interest in the affairs of others nearly causes her to miss out on the love of her life. This adaptation of
Emma was first shown in the U.S. on the A&E cable network; it followed both
Douglas McGrath's acclaimed film version starring
Gwyneth Paltrow, and
Amy Heckerling's considerably updated variation on the story,
Clueless. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide