A good movie with a good story and some good lessons
a dreamer, a Disney Channel Fan, a movie lover, a child at heart
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FEB
15
2008
The Princess Diaries (2001) —
PlotMia is an awkward girl living with her mother in San Francisco. Right around her 16 birthday she is told that her father has passed away - and given the shocking news that he was the crown Prince of a small country called Genovia. When the queen comes to visit to try and convince her to take her rightful spot as Princess, Mia is not as excited as most young girls would be. She has settled with being invisible and just hiding in the crowd, and now they are going to tell her she's a princess???
Mia: You try living for 15 years thinking that you're one person, and then in five minute, you find out you're a princess. Just in case I wasn't enough of a freak already, let's add a tiara!
She reluctantly agrees to go through the Princess training and not make any rash decisions. This is all to be done in secret, but of course high school kids gossip! Her secret is leaked and she is still unsure what she wants to do but now she has the whole town watching! What will she decide? Can she even pass the Princess training? You'll have to see for yourself!
Actors
Anne Hathaway plays Mia and does an excellent job at playing the awkward teen. At first she's not to hot on this whole princess idea, but she does come around a little as the movie goes on. As with any girl, her hidden dream does start to show as she's given pretty clothes and limos and all that good stuff. She is what makes this movie humorous and you end up feeling for her and caring what she decides.
Julie Andrews plays the Queen and is fabulous. She's really funny as the uptight, always perfect, queen who also knows how to have a little fun from time to time.
Queen: You are princess of Genovia.
Mia: Me, a princess? Shut up!
Queen: I beg your pardon, "Shut up"?
Consulate: Oh, your majesty, in America, it doesn't always mean to be quiet. Here it could mean "Wow, gee whiz, golly wolly"...
Heather Matarazzo plays Lilly, Mia's socially awkward friend that used to fit in with her great until all this princess training took over her time. She is more excited about the news than Mia but the she also fears she will lose her friend. Robert Schwartzman is Michael, Lilly's brother and Mia's friend. He likes her more than he's willing to admit, and this adds some romance to the movie. It's a cute-romance not a boring-romance and not an overly dramatic high school-romance.
[sees Mia's new look]
Lilly: Oy. Who destroyed you?
Mia: Oh. You-you think it looks that bad?
Lilly: You look ridiculous. You should sue.
Mia: Well um... I know it's a little straighter and shorter and...
Lilly: Weirder!
Michael: An attractive weirder.
Lilly: No, it's not attractive!
Hector Elizondo as Joe is one of my favorite characters. He's her limo-driver/princess teacher/body guard who is strict but you can tell he's really nice too. He really added some comedy to the movie.
Mia: Hey Joe? Can we park a block away from school? I really don't want to cause a riot with this hearse.
Joe: This is a non-riot hearse. And if it were a hearse there would be silence in the backseat.
Genre
The movie is very funny as we see Mia so reluctant to be a princess even though most young girls would die to have that title! I also mentioned the romance which is what makes the movie cute. Mia is anti-popularity, but still has a huge crush on a popular jock. It's one of those boy likes girl but girl has no idea type of movies. It's far from a cheesy high-school movie.
For Who?
Kids and adults of all ages should like this one. Young girls will especially like the possibility of being a princess. Teens and adults will enjoy the plot as you are not really sure what will happen. It's really not predictable overall because you don't know if she will take the crown or not until the very end.
Kids and Teens will also learn some lessons about how it's not always great to be popular and how you should always stick with your friends and yadda yadda yadda. Mia isn't the only one learning lessons though. Lilly, Mia's mom and even the Queen may learn a thing or two! but I'm not going to give it all away.
Conclusion
If you are looking for some laughs, and a cute family movie, Anne Hathaway has just given you the first place to look! The movie is cute, funny and even has some lessons within. It's probably one of the best Disney channel movies out there. You will find it on Disney often or you could always rent it. This is the type of movie I will watch anytime I see it on because I find it uplifting and enjoyable. Go see it today.
Last edited on Oct 14, 2008
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