Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Plot Summary

Mia (Anne Hathaway) the clumsy teenager who, under the watchful eye of her Grandmother, was shaped into a princess has finished college and has moved into the European palace of Genovia. Mia is to take over from her Grandmother (Julie Andrews) as Queen of Genovia but learns that in order to be Queen she must be married. To avoid forfeiting the crown a quest for a suitable groom starts. Anyone with a royal title might be a potential candidate but finding someone suitable and acceptable isn't that easy...

Review

The original Princess Diaries movie was very popular and fulfilled the fairytale fantasies of young girls who dreamt of becoming princesses and living in palaces with loads of lovely clothes and jewels. It was charming and funny enough to appeal to a wider audience including the parents who brought their kids to see it. It wasn't surprising that, after the success of the original, a sequel was made. Unfortunately this sequel doesn't have the same charm or humour of the original. Without enough material to keep things interesting it is all a bit weak and flimsy. The humour is a bit hit and miss and there are too many silly parts. 

Mia has finished college and is now a young beautiful princess. Anne Hathaway gets to play a more mature character than the clumsy teenager in the original movie but in many ways the role is still the same. The fairytale fantasy is still there. First it was the fantasy of becoming a princess, now it is the fantasy of marrying a prince and becoming Queen.

Julie Andrews is back as Mia's Grandmother and Queen of Genovia. As in the first movie many of the jokes revolve around her despair at the antics of Mia as she tries to find her way around royal protocol.

Bottom Line: Princess Diaries 2 will appeal to young kids but older kids will find it a bit lame. A fluffy sequel that doesn't have the humour or charm of the original. If you enjoy Princess Diaries 2 you might also enjoy 13 Going On 30,  The Prince And Me, and Maid In Manhattan.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2004.

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS:  GARRY MARSHALL: Raising Helen.  JULIE ANDREWS: Shrek 2.  JOHN RHYS-DAVIES: The Lord Of The Rings - The Fellowship Of The Ring,  Lord Of The Rings - The Two Towers,  The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King.

Genre: Comedy

Certificate: Gen

Director: Garry Marshall

~ Main Cast ~

Anne Hathaway

Julie Andrews

Hector Elizondo

Heather Matarazzo

John Rhys-Davies

Callum Blue

RATING

ONLY IF YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO