The Princess Diaries

 

The Princess Diaries 2001

• Director: Garry Marshall
• Seen by this director – Runaway Bride, Frankie and Johnny, Pretty Woman, Overboard
• Based on the book by Meg Cabot
• Cast: Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo, Caroline Goodall, Robert Schwarzman, Erik von Detten
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Anne Hathaway – many
• Julie Andrews - many
• Hector Elizondo – Runaway Bride, Frankie & Johnny, Pretty Woman, TV series
• Heather Matarazzo – Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far on Foot, Welcome to the Dollhouse
• Caroline Goodall - A Street Cat Called Bob, Mental, Schindler’s List
• Erik von Detten – Dinotopia, Barely Legal
• Why? My friend CW swears it’s a good film despite the dreadful title.
• Seen: 7 June 2024 

       Private high school (of course) in San Francisco, Mia (Hathaway) is a bullied nerd (of course) with a feisty single mom (Gooddall) (of course), an obnoxious know-it-all best friend (Matarazzo) (of course). Mia is in love with the school hunk (van Detten) of couse. So far so bad.

       Her rich grandmother (Andrews) turns out to be the Queen of Genovia, Mia’s late father was Prince and thus Mia is the heir to the throne. Grandma is going to teach her how to be a princess. Mia say – declares – decidedly, emphatically and inequivocally – NO!

       Yeah, right.

       It’s a terrible story with dreadful dialog. It’s only saving grace is a young but occasionally amusing Hathaway.

       Clichés, stereotypes, irritating characters, lame truisms.

       Sorry, CW.                        

 1 ½ * of 5