Romantic comedies are a dime a dozen. And Romantic comedies inspired by Jane Austen are even more common. In Laura Piani's directorial debut, she boldly takes on modernizing Austen and manages to make overused tropes feel new again.

Mostly in French, with some English thrown about, Piani's "Jane Austen Wrecked My Life" simultaneously makes you roll your eyes and grin like an idiot, an impressive feat that's accomplished through the genuine-feeling performances and dry humor throughout.

The slow build, excess of quiet moments, the natural sounding dialogue and the simple-yet-beautiful cinematography all come together with a story that gives that cozy feeling of curling up with your favorite Jane Austen novel.

What is 'Jane Austen Wrecked My Life' about?

Agathe Robinson (Camille Rutherford) is a reserved, hopeless romantic and chronically single bookseller at the famed Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris.

She spends her days reading, recommending the perfect-for-them Jane Austen novel to customers and studying the poetic missed-connection sticky notes on a vintage mirror inside the shop.

Outside of work, Agnes lives with her sister Mona (Alice Butaud) and her son Tom (Roman Angel). Occasionally her best friend and co-worker Félix (Paublo Pauly) crashes on their couch.

I truly thought this would be a friends-to-lovers storyline between Agathe and Félix.

Especially when Félix takes her writing and sends it to the Jane Austen Residency in hopes of getting her accepted into its two-week-long writing retreat at the author's home, stating, "You don't live, you hide."

To no one's surprise, Agathe is accepted. When Félix goes to drop her off to catch her boat, the two share a kiss and Agathe is off on her adventure.

When she arrives, she's picked up by none other than Austen's great-great-great nephew Oliver (Charlie Anson), a contemporary literature professor who finds his great-great-great Aunt's work overrated.

The moment Agathe throws up on his shoes after getting off the boat was the moment I knew this wasn't a friends-to-lovers story, but enemies-to-lovers, which is the more interesting pairing.

The two have several sparring matches where their differences are laid out loud and clear, but it always ends with one of them eyeing the other when they turn their back with a sly grin on their face.

It's expected. But that doesn't make it any less adorable.

Agathe spends the entire two weeks walking the grounds, trying to write, looking for inspiration, snooping on the other writers and their methods, all to no avail.

When the ball comes around — yes, there is a Jane Austen ball where everyone dresses up according to the time period — Agathe is surprised by Félix showing up to be her date. I've never been so envious of fictional characters.

Dressed to the nines, Agathe and Félix dance before Agathe runs into Oliver in the same way Elizabeth Bennett ran into Fitzwilliam Darcy in "Pride and Prejudice" before sharing a dance together.

And the sparks were flying.

You know where they weren't flying? In Agathe's bedroom, when she and Félix try to sleep together for the first time.

At the end of the program, all of the writers are required to give a public reading of the works they've been agonizing over for two solid weeks, but Agathe hasn't written a single word.

She heads back to Paris without a novel, without a love and returns to her boring life at the bookstore.

It's nothing new, but "Jane Austen Wrecked My Life" is a great comfort movie

What it lacks in originality, it makes up for in that the actors feel rooted in reality.

There's not a big incident that happens — no yelling, no big blow-ups. Every unfortunate thing that occurs is handled quietly and normally.

It's honestly refreshing to see real life on the screen.

Other than the performances, the other star of the show is Piani's keen eye for beautiful scenery and lighting. Every shot has a softness to it, a lot of warm, glowing lighting and intimate camera angles that don't feel invasive.

She is never afraid to linger on a beautiful shot of waves lapping behind a speeding boat or the beautiful gardens on the Austen estate, and it works. Despite the short hour-and-a-half runtime, nothing feels rushed, and nothing feels too dragged out.

'Jane Austen Wrecked My Life' 4.5 stars

Director: Laura Piani.

Cast: Camille Rutherford, Pablo Pauly, Charlie Anson.

Rating: R for language and some sexual contend and nudity.

How to watch: In theaters Friday, May 30.