When it comes to movies from an age long gone, there are few that stand out as well as The Princess Diaries. On this day, 19 years ago, it pulled audiences to the theater and I’d wager, has been enchanting us ever since.
The Princess Diaries (2001) Film Review
The plot (which we all likely know) follows Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway), a geeky teenager living in San Francisco. Raised by a strong mother, but with little memory of her beloved father, Mia is just trying to get through life with her best friend Lilly and the third member of her posse, Michael (who happens to be Lilly’s brother). Mia’s life isn’t glamorous, but it’s normal. Then the arrival of a proper British woman who says she’s Mia’s grandmother complicates everything.
Turns out, Clarisse (Julie Andrews) isn’t just Mia’s grandmother; she’s also a queen visiting in the hopes her granddaughter is ready to move to Genovia to prepare to take the throne. This upends Mia’s entire life, and leaves her questioning all she knew about her father, and makes her realize, she may never be a princess!
This is one of those films that has that “something” that makes it impossible not to enjoy. It’s from Disney, and marks the real “breakout” for actress Anne Hathaway. Perhaps this is where my adoration of royal storytelling first bloomed, I don’t know, but either way, The Princess Diaries is iconic in so many ways, and for its own set of reasons.
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It’s vague but I remember dying to see this one when it came to VHS (yes, I’m that old). The pre-teen me was already enchanted to see this story. There’s so much cute and sweet about this 2001 film. Hathaway plays a wonderfully geeky heroine who, let’s face it, we probably all relate to on some level. She has the entire awkward-teen stage down pat. A favorite actor in Garry Marshall films is Hector Elizondo, and he keeps to this tradition in this film, and of course, Julie Andrews is just iconic. Plus, let’s be real, who doesn’t love the idea of secretly being a princess?
If you haven’t seen this film (and I cannot imagine you haven’t), then you simply must make a date with this Disney film. It’s cute and funny; poignant and a little bit romantic. In other words, it has all the good kind of ingredients we love best about the favorite feel-good movies we enjoy watching time and time again.
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Content: There’s very little to bother anyone in this film. There’s some suggestive remarks but nothing that’s offensive.
Photos: Disney
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