THE QUEENS CORGI

Belgium 2019,  

Voices of: Jack Whitehall, Rusty Shacklefield, Tom Courtenay, Julie Walters, Jo Wyatt, Leo Barakat, Dino Andrade, Kirk Thornton, Ray Winstone, Paul Gregory, Matt Lucas, Sheridan Smith.

Directed by Vincent Kesteloot, Ben Stassen.

Everybody knows about Queen Elizabeth’s passion for corgis. Here is an imaginative variation on the theme, a Belgian animation production, British writers, and British voices.

There is plenty to entertain the younger audiences, the focus on the dogs, rivalry amongst the Royal corgis, one, Rex (voiced by Jack Whitehall) preening himself as the younger and the chosen but subject to betrayal by his rival, Charlie. Rex has various adventures, pushed into the river, rescued, sent to the pound, meeting quite a number of dogs including a bully, Tyson (Ray Winstone) and his girlfriend with whom he becomes enchanted, Wanda (Sheridan Smith). He and Wanda make a return to Buckingham Palace and a confrontation with Charlie.

There is plenty to entertain the adult audiences, the representation of the Queen, a rather tall and long-face Duke of Edinburgh who is not all that keen on the corgis, voiced by Julie Walters and Tom Courtenay. There is the Queen’s fondness for Rex, grief at his seeming death, relief at his return.

And, rather daring, perhaps, for production in 2019, but funny in retrospect, there is a visit by President Trump to Buckingham Palace with Melania. The satire in his presentation, his boxes this in the presence of the Queen, wanting to take self is, Melania wanting her dog to choose one of the British corgis as a partner, Rex chosen, biting the President at a Royal dinner, the president then splashing her Majesty with soup and his indignant withdrawal.

More humorous and telling than might have been expected.

1. Everybody knowing Queen Elizabeth’s corgis, their place at the Royal Palace? The attitude of the Duke of Edinburgh!
2. Belgian animation, British voice cast? The style of the animation, of the Queen the Duke of Edinburgh, of the stuffy servants at the palace, the ordinary people at the dog pound? The drawing of the dogs, realism for the corgis, the other dogs at the pound, Tyson and his bullying, the range of the other dogs, Wanda? The locations, the familiar London scenes, Buckingham Palace, interiors? The contrast with the pound?
3. The voice cast, prominent British actors? The musical score?
4. The story of Rex, the junior of the Royal corgis, the older corgis and their place, Charlie and his expecting to be top dog? The Queen’s attraction to Rex, spoiling him, taking him everywhere, all the souvenirs with him? The reaction of the other dogs? Rex and his getting the Royal collar? His arrogance? Charlie, befriending him, taking him for the walk, pushing him into the river, Rex surviving, rescued, the examination, going to the pound? In the cell with the street-savvy dog, the conversations, explanations, the dogs not believing Rex’s claim? The dog who never spoke, being? Sleeping? The range of other dogs, the dogfights? The levers, everybody getting out, the fights, Tyson and his domination? Rex and the attraction to Wanda? Tyson and his reaction? The mug breaking and Wanda realising Rex was telling the truth?
5. The pound, life there, the cells, the meals, out in the open, the visitors coming to choose a pet? The dogs training Rex for a fight against Tyson, the comedy of the routines in his training? The final confrontation, the big dog speaking and putting Tyson down? Rex and the adoption, his escape, the return, getting Wanda, the return to the Palace?
6. Rex not being let in, the guards, the hole blocked up, the newspaper, seeing pictures of his funeral? And the scenes with the Queen’s grief, searching for Rex, the remains, the funeral?
7. Charlie, the promotion, vanity, lording it over the others, wanting titles? The return of Rex, the support from Wanda and his infatuation with her? The confrontation with Charlie, the souvenirs falling out of the cupboard, Charlie setting of the fire, Rex rescuing Wanda? Her being put with the balloons, the other dogs to the rescue? Rex trapped in the chimney?
8. The dogs arriving, getting in, their ingenuity with the extinguishers, the phone and the jokes?
9. Charlie, the ceremony, the collar disappearing? Charlie going to the room, the confrontation with the dogs? The Queen finding Rex, delighted have been back? The Duke of Edinburgh – or not?
10. The portrait of the Queen, sympathetic, her love for animals? her relationship with Philip, his being in the background, the visuals of him, with the Queen, love for her, but not so much love for the dogs?
11. The visit of President Trump and Melania, the satire on Trump, the selfies, protocols? The dog, Rex chosen for her, Trump and the soup and Rex biting him, his leaving in a huff? The car later returning, the American dog, taking Charlie?
12. Plenty of characters and action for younger audiences? Amusement for older audiences with the life of the Royal family – and the visit of President Trump?