wrap in gorgeous english country background and emma be a delicious confection to be relish for dreamy getaway . emma ( gwyneth paltrow ) be a graceful and intelligent young woman who have just marry off her governess and confidant to a marriage which emma take the credit in matchmaking . eager to use her talent in arrange thing for the people around her and she decide to match the vicar and mr. elton ( alan cummings ) with her pretty young friend and harriet ( toni collette ) . the result be a series of mixed signal and mistaken interpretation that end up sort themselves out and with emma learning that she do not have as much control over event a she think . the film be full of jane austen witty and wry characterization . gwyneth paltrow be at her best and portray this maiden of a restrained and polite society with wit and ease . her grow romance with the unparalleled mr. knightley ( jeremy northam ) be the heart of this film . mr. knightley be one of the great romantic lead men in film . he be incredibly handsome and in a modest and relaxed way that be irresistible . he be certainly well match to gwyneth paltrow . their charming friendship that begin when he be 16 and she be an infant and have blossom a he and a family friend and match wit with her in an old brotherly fashion that grow into something more . with a wry look or understated jab at emma and northam knightley be a delight to watch . other wonderful characterization include the comic juliet stevenson and greta scacchi and ewan mcgregor and polly walker and and the talkative spinster and miss bates and who be very funny . seem short and more flowing than most jane austin adaptation and emma have comic rhythm that promise true enjoyment .