|
The Princess Diaries is heavy on "cute." The storyline is cute, the actors are cute, everything is cute. Directed by Garry Marshall, this ugly duckling story is basically a teenage version of another Marshall picture - Pretty Woman. It even features several members of the same cast including Hector Elizando, Patrick Richwood and Kathleen Marshall.
The cast is the best part about this picture. Anne Hathaway is wonderful as Mia. She portrays both the seemingly invisible nobody and the thrust-into-the-spotlight royal with equal charm, which is no easy feat. Julie Andrews, making her return to the Disney Studios after having portrayed Mary Poppins, is so perfectly suited for her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi that she doesn't even seem to be acting. Hector Elizando makes the movie as Joe, the jack of all trades who serves as the royal security advisor, chauffeur and fairy godmother. Heather Matarazzo, as Mia's best friend Lilly, also stands out and may remind viewers of a young Christine Baranski.
Unfortunately, the characters they portray are not nearly as good. None are fully developed and rely on stereotypes to convey personalities - the hippie mom, the Barbie cheerleader, the quirky best friend, the flamboyent hairdresser. It's these two-dimensional personalities that leave the film feeling a little flat and the familiar storyline simply is not enough to carry the movie on its own.
That's not to say that The Princess Diaries is a bad movie. Quite the opposite. It is a well-done movie that portrays some of the issues and situations that kids face as they grow up. Peer pressure, popularity, parental relationships, etc. A true coming-of-age story, everyone should see some aspect of their own life in Mia as she faces the trials and tribulations of growing up.
With a G rating, this film is meant as a family picture but outside of pre-teen girls, this movie might not register with many members of the family. Younger children probably will not get it and teenagers will think it a bit hokey. Adults may find some of the charms that this movie does present but may not think that sitting through the full running time worthwhile.
While The Princess Diaries may not be the next Mary Poppins for the Walt Disney Studios, it does have enough charm and wit to make it an fun adventure. If you like "cute," you'll enjoy this movie. But you don't necessarily have to run out to the theater to do so. Wait for its release on video and enjoy it in the comforts of your own palace.
|
