Princess Diaries 2

[AOII_Luv]

I saw the movie last night with my two younger sisters. I really liked it and so did they! It was a funny movie that any and all princesses should go see! There were a few high school boys in my theater that were annoying as all get out and I'm sure we will all run into those people for this movie, but ignore it and enjoy! They are just jealous anyway!

[jess_pom]

Did they even touch on Michael? You can't not talk about what happened!

[reverie]

Originally posted by jess_pom
Did they even touch on Michael? You can't not talk about what happened!

They do mention Michael in the first ten minutes of the movie.

[sigirl]

I liked Michael too, but the new guy in the movie (who's hot, but would be way hotter w/ a haircut) is pretty likeable. If you watch the movie, they tell you what happened to Michael.

I liked this -- it was just about as good as the first one. There were actually quite a few funny moments.

[James]

It was bad. I adore movies like this, but it was bad.

Then plot wasn't very tightly constructed. They wrote for a younger target age. I thought the first one transcended that, but this one is geared for 11 year olds.

I liked Anne Hatherway's character in the first one. Hatheway is just fun to watch because she is so delightfully animated, but in this one I was actually starting not to like her.

I mean she trifles with other people's emotions, she is absolutely self centered. She almost comes across as a bit of a tramp or a trollop.

Even like the parade scene, a high school parade is more impressive than what they showed us.

I would blame the writer, but anything this bad takes a committee to mess up. Disney, Ha!

[James]

THE PRINCESS DIARIES 2: ROYAL ENGAGEMENT / *1/2 (G)

August 11, 2004

BY ROGER EBERT








Mia Thermopolis: Anne Hathaway
Queen Clarisse: Julie Andrews
Viscount Mabrey: John Rhys-Davies
Joe: Hector Elizondo
Lilly Moscovitz: Heather Matarazzo
Lord Palimore: Tom Poston
Paolo: Larry Miller
Sir Nicholas: Chris Pine


Walt Disney Pictures presents a film directed by Garry Marshall. Written by Shonda Rhimes and Gina Wendkos, based on the novel by Meg Cabot. Running time: 120 minutes. Rated G.



"The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" offers the prudent critic with a choice. He can say what he really thinks about the movie, or he can play safe by writing that it's sure to be loved by lots of young girls. But I avoid saying that anything is sure to be loved by anybody.

In this case, I am not a young girl, nor have I ever been, and so how would I know if one would like it? Of course, that's exactly the objection I get in e-mails from young readers, who complain that no one like me can possibly like a movie like this. They are correct. I have spent a long time, starting at birth and continuing until this very moment, evolving into the kind of person who could not possibly like a movie like this, and I like to think the effort was not in vain.

So to girls who think they might like this movie, I say: Enjoy! Movies are for fun, among other things, and if you love "Princess Diaries 2," then I am happy for you, because I value the movies too much to want anyone to have a bad time at one.

But to Garry Marshall, the often-talented director of the original "Princess Diaries" as well as this sequel, I say: Did you deliberately assemble this movie from off-the-shelf parts or did it just happen that way? The film is like a homage to the cliches and obligatory stereotypes of its genre. For someone like Marshall, it must have been like playing the scales.

The beautiful Anne Hathaway, still only 22, stars as Princess Mia. You will remember that she was a typical American teenager whose mother raised her in a converted San Francisco firehouse, where she could slide down the pole every morning. Then a visit from Queen Clarisse of Genovia (Julie Andrews) revealed that she was, in fact, the queen's granddaughter, and next in line to the throne.

In Part 2, she is the beloved Princess Mia of Genovia, a kingdom the size of a movie set, which is apparently located somewhere in Europe and populated by citizens who speak American English, except for a few snaky types with British accents. This kingdom has two peculiarities: (1) The shops and homes all seem to be three-quarter-scale models of the sorts of structures an American Girl doll would occupy, and (2) A great many of the extras get a few extra frames, in order to look uncannily as if they might be personal friends of the director. So many prosperous men in their 60s, so well-barbered, groomed and dressed, so Southern California in their very bearing, are unlikely to be visiting Genovia for any other reason, since the kingdom doesn't seem to have a golf course.

There's no need for me to spoil the plot; as I was saying just the other day about "The Village," it spoils itself. If I were to describe the characters, you could instantly tell me what happens in the movie. Let's try that, as an experiment.

There is Princess Mia, who is given a deadline of one month to either marry or forfeit her rights to the throne. The evil Viscount Mabrey (John Rhys-Davies) wants to disqualify her because his nephew Sir Nicholas (Chris Pine) is next in line to the throne. Desperate for a husband and learning that Queen Clarisse was perfectly happy in an arranged marriage, Mia decides to marry for the love of her country.

A suitable bachelor is discovered: the nice Andrew Jacoby, Prince of Kensington (Callum Blue). Mia accepts his proposal, despite, as she writes in her diary on the movie's Web site, "He's everything a girl should want in a husband-to-be. It's ... just that ... something ... you know." Meanwhile, of course she hates the handsome young Sir Nicholas, who hangs around a lot and annoys her. Dear Diary: "Just look at him ... all sneaky and smug ... and ... cute."

OK now, given those clues, see if you can figure out who she ends up with. And for that matter, consider Joseph (Hector Elizondo), the chief of palace security. He has been in love with the widow Clarisse for years, and she knows it and is pleased. That provides us with a romance without closure that has persisted ever since the first movie, and if there is anything nature abhors more than a vacuum, it is a loving couple kept asunder, when they should be sundering.

Director Marshall puts his cast and plot through their paces with the speed and deliberation of Minnesota Fats clearing the table. He even provides a fountain for two characters to stand beside, so they can illustrate Gene Siskel's maxim that nobody in a comedy ever comes within 10 yards of water without falling in.

Yes, it's nice to see Julie Andrews looking great and performing a song, although the line "Give the queen a shout-out, and she'll sing" is one I doubt will ever be heard in Buckingham Palace. It is also rather original that at her slumber party, Mia and her friends don't get wasted at a private club, but engage in the jolly indoor sport of mattress surfing.



All that remains is for me to remind you that on Aug. 24, the DVD of "Ella Enchanted" will be released. A box-office flop that was wrongly overlooked earlier this year, it also stars Anne Hathaway. It's a wonderful, lighthearted fantasy based on Cinderella, and is sure to be loved by lots of young girls

[azdtaxi]

Originally posted by lyrica9
is no one else upset that the second movie has NOTHING to do with the book series? you would think they could make the movie to follow up on the rest of the series... i mean.. in all the previews of movie 2 it talks about how she has never been in love. for those who read the books, uh, hello, what about michael?!

grar.

I was upset ... but even the first movie didnt follow the books ... ie her father was alive in the books ... I have read all the books and love them and want to see this movie so bad

[sigirl]

Originally posted by James
It was bad. I adore movies like this, but it was bad.

Then plot wasn't very tightly constructed. They wrote for a younger target age. I thought the first one transcended that, but this one is geared for 11 year olds.

I liked Anne Hatherway's character in the first one. Hatheway is just fun to watch because she is so delightfully animated, but in this one I was actually starting not to like her.

I mean she trifles with other people's emotions, she is absolutely self centered. She almost comes across as a bit of a tramp or a trollop.

Even like the parade scene, a high school parade is more impressive than what they showed us.

I would blame the writer, but anything this bad takes a committee to mess up. Disney, Ha!

Wow, that's a bit harsh. I liked the movie, the writing wasn't that bad, though i agree w/ you that its obvious that Princess Mia has changed quite a bit. I had no problem w/ her though, afterall, she's been princess for some time now.

I loved Julie Andrews performance -- had no problem w/ the parade scene. But then again, I wasn't expecting an Oscar winning movie with this one either.

[mu_agd]

Originally posted by polarpi
Maybe the love interest (which from the preview I saw in the theaters was NOT Michael)?

I think the reason the movies don't follow the books is that each book has so much in it (and really is only a short period of time)....I think all the books together are going to equal her freshman year of high school, whereas the movies has her (first) as a 16 year old, and (second) going to get married, so there is likely a large gap in the timing of the movies, which wouldn't go along with the books, anyways.

the movies don't follow the books b/c disney only licensed the use of characters, not the use of the story/plot.

[NinjaPoodle]

Um, Roger Ebert, it's a DISNEY flick Calm down.
I'm actually surprised it wasn't sappier (sp?). I thought it was cute. It had a lot going on in it. Mia grew up. You can't expect her to act like a 16 year old forever.

I do own the 1st one and when it becomes available, this one too. One thing I did like was that Mr. Marshall put his granddaughter in the film again. The one in the wheelchair. At the slumber party she is in the left corner when Raven (annoying as all hell) and Julie Andrews is singing "on stage". FYI Gary Marshall’s g-d was one of the autograph seekers in the first one.

Defiantly a pre-teen-chick-flick. I give it 4 stars****

[moe.ron]

I've herd in her next movie, she is going to be nude scenes. I think the movie is called Havoc.

[James]

Julie Andrews? Thats a little frightening.

Originally posted by moe.ron
I've herd in her next movie, she is going to be nude scenes. I think the movie is called Havoc.

[moe.ron]

Originally posted by James
Julie Andrews? Thats a little frightening.

Maybe in her younger days it'll be all good. But I'm talking about Ann Hathaway (sp?).

[AOII*Azra-elle]

Ya know, I didn't even know there were books written....hmmm. Maybe I'll have to check those out.

I liked the movie, I thought there were funny parts in it, but the brat in front of me kept annoying us...*grrr*

[polarpi]

I finally saw it this afternoon...it was cute, and one I'd definitely buy when it comes out....but I think the ending left it too open (maybe for *another* sequel???) I wanted to see what happened!

And was it me, or was the only reason Mia's stepfather was there to look around worriedly when Mia was doing all this important stuff for Genovia?