PRINCESS DIARIES 2: ROYAL ENGAGEMENT
US, 2004, 114 minutes, Colour.
Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo, John Rhys Davies, Chris Pine, Callum Blue, Larry Miller, Carolyn Goodall, Tom Poston.
Directed by Gary Marshall.
The original Princess Diaries was an unexpected hit, an American nod in the direction of European royalty and pomp, contrasting with the more easy-going American lifestyle. This time it is European royalty and pomp all the way. It has been very successful at the American box-office so it is clear that there are many people out there who like it. Most likely young girls who dream about such things, and their parents.
It is an easy target for grizzled old reviewers – and, indeed, they took their pot-shots. Here are some more: the first part is like going out shopping for dresses at Harrods with the girls and, the whole thing is all like eating icing for two hours while walking through a pageantry theme park. Of course, if you enjoy this, then, by all means, go and see it.
You will find Anne Hathaway, pretty but still often gawky, trying to become a queen and become engaged in thirty days. Julie Andrews is there to assist and even sings a recitatif song – which makes the botched operation on her throat all the sadder. Hector Elizondo is there to provide some humour and romance for Julie.
The potential suitors are an unsuitable lot (although Prince William is on the list but unreachable) and Princess Mia has to settle for a stiff upper lip Englishman. Lurking in the background is the seeming local cad who could assume the throne if she does not marry. Wonder who she marries!!
1.The popularity and success of the original film? A remake as well as a sequel?
2.The audience for this film, the young audience, pre-teen girls? The response of adults? (And male audiences, men and boys?)
3.The popular characters – with the touch of caricature? The creation of Genovia, the traditional little principalities of central Europe? The eye on Monaco? The status of royalty in the 20th and 21st centuries? Old Europe? American love for royalty, costume, pageantry and ceremonial?
4.The focus on costumes, lavish dresses…? Décor and pageantry? The musical score, the range of songs?
5.Mia, Princeton, political science, the graduation? Clarisse and Joseph and their support? Mia and her friends, especially Lily? The five years passing since the first film? Her accepting that she had to be a princess? Looking forward to being queen of Genovia? The American style of Lily and her friends, their support, criticisms? Her devotion to her grandmother, reliance on Joseph? Beauty, gawkiness and her being accident-prone?
6.The return to Genovia, the response of the people, her going to the parliament, the discussion, the issue of her marrying within thirty days? Viscount Mabrey, his determination, his speaking against Mia? Her exploring the palace, overhearing what was going on? The build-up to the ball, her dancing with the various possible suitors, young and old? Her meeting Nick, his charm, the dance? The possibility for marriage? Her reacting against the order? Yet her having to accept?
7.The members of parliament, the lords, the male attitudes? Queen Clarice and her accepting tradition, wanting to change? The pressures on Mia, the collage of training her in royal etiquette - the humour, the pratfalls?
8.Mia’s character, age? Her trying to adapt, memories of her mother and father? The encounters with Nicholas, her attraction towards him, the various meetings, discussions? Her realising that he was a potential heir to the throne? The on-again, off-again friendship, the horse riding? The night before, spending the time with Nicholas in the field, the photographers, her suspicions and disgust?
9.The queen, her regal manner, the Julie Andrews style? The tradition, her marriage, protocols? Elegance and training Mia? Getting her out of scrapes, the accidents at the ball, the dinners, the parties? Her trying to let Mia grow up – but control her? The prospect of her fiance, the queen’s attitude towards the Englishman?
10.The preparations for the wedding, the clothes, the cakes etc? The princesses coming – and the teenage slumber party style? The slippery dip – and Queen Clarice surfing on the mattress?
11.Viscount Mabrey, his plans, sinister? The pressurising of Nicholas, Nicholas’s personality? Mabrey using Nicholas? Trying to subvert Mia, attracted, the seeming seduction? Nicholas and his falling in love, wanting Mabrey to stop? The night before the wedding, their communication, falling in love? The photographer and Mia blaming him?
12.Joseph, security, steady influence? His devotion to Queen Clarice, the proposal, the queen’s refusing? In love, the final proposal, the wedding and the happy ever after for the queen and Joseph?
13.The Englishman, his background, upper class, his own girlfriend, willing to sacrifice himself, the engagement? The functions with Mia, his parents, the British? His not being in love?
14.Lily, the confidante, her shrewd take on things? The advice to Mia? The other friends? The lady in charge of protocol?
15.The build-up to the wedding, the ceremony, Mia and Andrew? Her not being able to go through with it? Andrew’s relief? Her going to the parliament, the explanations, her making a plea, the equality of women?
16.The feminist touches of the film, Mia as independent despite having to follow protocols, her speeches, her determination, her getting her way, the support of the queen?
17.The romance with Nicholas, his renouncing his claim to the throne, the happy ever after ending?
18.The romantic touches, the pageantry, the ceremonial, clothes? The trappings of royalty?
19.The comic aspects of the film, Mia’s pratfalls, the contrast between her attitudes and those of central Europe? The humour of Paolo and his designing her hair – the echoes of the first film, the collage and the ridiculous aspects of the dresser and hairdresser?
20.The popularity of this kind of film for younger female audiences?
