The Princess Diaries Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
She rocks. She rules. She reigns.
A socially awkward but very bright 15-year-old girl being raised by a single mom discovers that she is the princess of a small European country because of the recent death of her long-absent father, who, unknown to her, was the crown prince of Genovia. She must make a choice between continuing the life of a San Francisco teen or stepping up to the throne. While Mia makes up her mind, she's pressed into taking princess lessons from her grandmother.
| Julie Andrews | Queen Clarisse Renaldi |
| Anne Hathaway | Mia Thermopolis |
| Hector Elizondo | Joe |
| Heather Matarazzo | Lilly Moscovitz |
| Mandy Moore | Lana Thomas |
| Caroline Goodall | Helen Thermopolis |
| Robert Schwartzman | Michael Moscovitz |
| Erik von Detten | Josh Bryant |
| Patrick Flueger | Jeremiah Hart |
| Sean O'Bryan | Teacher Patrick O'Connell |
| Sandra Oh | Vice Principal Gupta |
| Kathleen Marshall | Charlotte |
| Mindy Burbano | Gym Teacher Ms. Harbula |
| Kimleigh Smith | Music Teacher Wells |
| Beth Anne Garrison | Cheerleader Anna |
| Garry Marshall |
5.80 out of 10 (11514 votes)
Visitor Reviews
disappointing
posted on 27 Jun 2009While this film was semi-entertaining at times, it was usually just annoying. Now, I don't as a general rule like "Pygmalion" stories, where a girl is taught to be completely different from who she is, that she is not worthy of being taken seriously unless she wears her hair a certain way or dresses a certain way. While her mother and her (by the end of the movie of course) boyfriend both cared for her no matter what, no one else really did--including her grandmother. Actually, the thing that really bugged me the most is that the director should have left in 2 of the deleted scenes available on the DVD version, one of her mother's date with the teacher and reaction to the new Mia, and one of Mia with what's-his-face-boyfriend-guy. The movie was discontinuous and incomplete without them. Plus the acting was generally nothing special.
What a GREAT MOVIE
posted on 01 Jun 2009I am a teenager and i happen 2 love the PRINCESS DIARIES I think it is a wonderful story about a girl who isn't very popular in school and is basically a geek but then is told by her fathers mother that she is a princes WHAT A GIRLS DREAM but not for her she just wants 2 b invisible not b the center of everything and run a country i think its a wonderful adventure 2 c how she changes 2 become a princess i think this movie is great for children and adults as well This movie was such a pleasure for my family and i to watch we all loved it I have given this movie 9 stars out of ten because in my opinion this movie is really great and I recommend this film and also PRINCESS DIARIES 2 ROYAL ENGAGEMENT 2 everyone <333
Royal
posted on 28 May 2009This was a good movie. I think I can start by saying that I don't think much of Mandy Moore as a singer but hey she was a pretty good actress here. So is Anne Hathaway who is also very pretty and the rest of the people in the cast. Although it could have been shorter and some parts seemed kind of pointless, this is a fun, enjoyable, and cute movie which is appropriate for all ages. It also has a happy ending which is always good. At first this just might seem like a movie that is fun and harmless to watch without really learning anything from it but I think you can learn a few things from it, like believing in yourself and your dreams and working to make them come true for you. Also facing your responsibilities. As the song goes, "Miracles happen when you believe." That is also a cute music video at the end of this movie.
Good, clean family fun
posted on 28 May 2009This is a good film for family viewing, and for anyone who is just plain tired of sex, violence, and vulgar language. My friend and I, both middle-aged women, saw this film on a Sunday afternoon amid the presence of families with children. The idea was simple, but showing a good, typical teen-ager becoming a real-life princess. For children, it's important for them to see good teens rather than the usual ones who flock our screens with violence, despair, drug use, etc. This is reassuring for parents who want to enjoy a film with their kids but not to cringe with embarassment. I don't think this is the kind of film that most adults would want to see as a rule, but it was fun and entertaining.
Satisfying family flick
posted on 20 May 2009A typical Disney fluff of a movie that flows along with the many carbon copies of the "ugly duckling" formula. Though seemingly always predictable and formulaic, the movie retains a sort of mild watchability that is sure to please family goers expecting more than just a retread of toilet humor.The beautiful Anne Hathaway lights up the screen and the always elegant Julie Andrews fills in the rest of the charm. Some jokes and gags usually miss, and the movie is marred mainly due to overlength. All in all, a pleasant, if heavily flawed, movie-going experience aimed towards families.
A refreshing, hilarious, glance into a teenager's dream
posted on 08 May 2009I was incredibly pleased with this movie. Apart from nicely, tightly, written dialogue, wonderful direction, and flawless acting, it was a refreshing break from the "potty" and indecent humor that as of late has invaded the big screen. The characters are real while at the same time of a fairy tale essence. It's funny, but dramatic. It's great to see some clean movies out there that aren't positively pathetic. Will absolutely be seeing again!
CHEAPER THAN CHARM SCHOOL
posted on 06 May 2009A cheap way to teach your daughter about good posture. Other than that, the message to young girls was: straighten your frizzy hair, pluck your bushy eyebrows, doff your glasses, be lucky enough to have a royal relative and you will be a success. I liked Bridget Jones' Diaries' message better: be yourself.And Julie Andrews has never been able to act. Sing? Yes. Act? No.
Good job (well, mostly)! Andrews, Elizondo, Hathaway were great
posted on 02 May 2009This variation on the 'My Fair Lady' theme made a good family movie, one which had many opportunities for offensive content but took very few of them. Rebellious wallflower Mia eventually learned poise, sophistication and concern for others, though she risked forgetting who her real friends were. For a newcomer, I thought Anne Hathaway did quite well. One example:
in the 'Wonderful World of Disney' presentation of this movie on ABC, we were given a behind-the-scenes look at the movie. It seems that one of Hathaway's many falls was unintentional, but she recovered quite nicely.
Her best performance came toward the end. The physical comedy was good. Of course, learning how to be 'proper' and look attractive was one of the main themes, carried out quite well by all involved, especially the man who fixed Mia's hair.Julie Andrews did a magnificent job as the Queen, with her best work coming after a traffic accident. She was proper and sophisticated but never completely out of touch with the needs of her granddaughter. She, too, could be 'cool'.Hector Elizondo also did a great job as the chauffeur. He could have easily played the King, if there had been one, but he made the most of his role, coming across as quite intelligent and caring.At times, though, this movie got off track. I didn't particularly care for Lilly, but that didn't necessarily mean a bad performance from Heather Matarazzo. Perhaps I disliked her because she was so good. I'm going to say that the movie might have been just fluff without introducing some of the other plot twists. Then again, those very plot twists might have added to the impression of fluff.There was one curse word in two hours (including breaks). Anything else that could have come close to being off-color stayed within the bounds of decency, though one gag just barely did (no pun intended; see below after spoiler warning).I didn't care for a lot of the music, but then I'm not in the movie's target audience. One song I did like was played when Mia would fantasize about kissing.It wasn't the best Disney movie ever, but I was pretty happy.COULD BE A SPOILER: A possible red flag: a prank by Mia's so-called friends when she was changing clothes. Not what happened by itself, but the aftermath. Still, the dialogue wasn't overly explicit.
Wonderful! Disney is once again doing high quality movies!
posted on 22 Apr 2009Those of us who were fans of the "Wonderful World of Disney" and the great movies Disney produced before Walt died, will be thrilled to watch this movie! Great story, great acting, and CLEAN!! No filth that has to be sorted through or explained to young children!My whole extended family (age 3-61) gives it a "10"! Thanks Disney! Keep up the great work!
Maybe 8-15 year old girls would enjoy this
posted on 12 Apr 2009I've seen a lot of bad movies, but this one takes the cake. Julie Andrews does an excellent job in her role, but there is little else to compliment in this film. It is cliche' driven and generally most of the players overact, possibly to compensate for the story that trudges along. Perhaps young girls would enjoy this film, but I don't think any adult would want to spend the time watching this ruined fairy tale. I give this movie a half star, only because Julie Andrews does such a fine job.
Totally and only for kids
posted on 19 Mar 2009To be fair, this movie MUST be recognized for the intended target audience: Young girls, maybe 8 to 15 years old. My childless roommate, a female, thought some of the dialogue and behavior of the title character was a bit fakey. My experience with young adolescent girls in the household was that the movie dialogue was actually right on key. Kids have a way of over-dramatizing things, and a penchant for making even the most ordinary situations theatrical and melodramatic. "The Princess Diaries" certainly seemed to capture that.The thing is, what truly interests and occupies a 13 or 14 year-old girl is NOT what interests anybody else. Thus, the movie comes off as kind of stale, lame, and way too low key. In our house, we gamely tried to get in the spirit and enjoy what the movie could offer us. Sadly, that wasn't much, and we ultimately gave up and quit watching before the end. Within 4 or 5 seconds we had forgotten that we had even been watching it.But for the kids-- it seems wholesome and authentic, and possibly just the thing for those angsty early adolescent theater queens. Rent or buy it for them, but save yourself the trouble of dismissing it.
A surprisingly good movie for one that's rated G
posted on 19 Feb 2009I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Given that the movie was rated G, I went into it with more than a little skepticism with regard to its quality. And yet, there was something about the trailer that spoke to me on a level that I cannot define. The movie was cute and sweet. The clear lack of violence and other R rated material was a refreshing break from this summer's other box office hits. Julie Andrews was magnificent as the queen. Why indeed, she was born to play a queen. Her grace, elegance and charm gave the movie a sense of excellence that could not have been achieved otherwise. Anne Hathaway, the talented 18 year old who plays Mia, walked the fine line between portraying the fairytale'ish princess and your everyday 16 year old teenager with exceptional skill. Her clumsy screw ups and other social gaffes were charming and endearing. And who could forget Hector Elizando? It is his acting that gives the movie the touch of humanity that so perfectly complements everything else in the film.Indeed, this is a movie that everyone will enjoy. There is a part, within every one of us, that wants to be recognized, to be a princess (or a prince in the case of a guy). And it is precisely to that part of us that this movie speaks.
Definitely a girls night in movie
posted on 13 Feb 2009I loved the books. They were fun and fairytalish and yet real at the same time. I could relate. I know for Hollywood they need to brush up a few things to make it shorter etc. but they seem to have slaughtered Meg Cabot's wonderfully written story. The only thing from the books I think is most of the names and the fact Mia is a Princess. However, putting the book aside, just as a movie it's one of those to watch when your feeling depression/having a sleepover/are ill. It's a comfort movie (kinda like comfort food).Anne Hathaway was brilliant but the way she portrayed Mia (and the way she looked) was not quite how I imagined. I have never been a fan of Julie Andrews but even I think this was one of her weaker roles. She didn't shine.Basically it's watchable but very annoying if you've read the books. Also there is hardly any real plot and is a typical Disney film (And everyone was nice to each other through out the whole film and then they lived happily ever after). So if you like Disney: Go watch!
A cute movie
posted on 09 Feb 2009Finally, a cute G-rated movie (which means it can be watched by a five year old safely) such a rare commodity in Hollywood nowadays. The story was geared for children and should be viewed as such with no high expectations of excellent acting (except by Julie Andrews and Hector Elizondo) or unpredictable plot-lines. My young daughters, including my almost 18 year old love this movie. Non-threatening and fun to watch.
Book vs Movie - Book wins.
posted on 07 Feb 2009Okay, I will not deny that the movie was brilliant, because it was - but what ruined the movie for me was reading the books. The books are much better, with a deeper plot line, and the movie had very little of the original aspects, which upset me. Where was Tina? Where was Boris? They were all key characters in the book, and there's no reason they shouldn't have been carried off into the movie. But anyway.Anne Hathaway is a brilliant actress in any movie she does, except for the fact most of her movies are the same, but that's beside the point. She's perfect for the part. I also liked Heather Matarazzo as Lilly, and I'm glad they were both in the second movie. Julie Andrews was wonderful to, and it's nice to see that after all these years, she can still play a strong, and good character. A character and actor I didn't like though, was Jeremiah Hart, played by Patrick Flueger. If he was supposed to be a replacement for Boris, he was a very weak replacement. The character could have been a bit more similar to his equal in the books, and the acting could have been better.For a Disney movie, this is quite good, but in regards to linking to the book - it was done very very badly.
Falls short of good family entertainment.
posted on 05 Feb 2009Although this film did portray the common, unpopular/unattractive introverted girl becomes popular/beautiful confident princess scenario, the attempts and quirky remarks and acting of some of the cast members made it a movie to forget. This movie is so predictable you might as well just watch the advertisement on TV a couple times and call it a day. Not to mention the annoying acting skills of Mia's best friend Lily. If she made one more bitter and unnecessary comment in an attempt at humor, I was going to shut it off. The message this movie attempts to get across is old, bland, and boring. Don't waste your money on this crap. Anne Hathaway does a fairly good job with the material she was given to perform. ANYONE could have acted the part of Julie Andrews. Anyway, I know people are thinking "dont pick this apart" "take a happy movie for what it is". While I'm sorry, but I wasn't happy after watching this movie, I was relieved, that it was over.
It ain't so bad
posted on 03 Feb 2009I'm not a teenaged girl, so don't ask me what I was doing with this movie...somebody lent it to my sister. I guess I started watching it with zero expectations, which I think these days is the only way to go. Wouldn't you know I actually laughed here and there. What can I say?
There were actually some unexpectedly funny moments. People have complained about the transformation of Mia. Well, they could have done without the face makeover, I suppose, but that nest of hair had to go. I can't believe her mother never took a hairbrush to her before she slid down the pole to go to school. (They live in a converted firehouse...the mother was some kind of beatnik once.) Julie Andrews is so cosy and reassuring as the Grandma, and keeps saying the word "Genovia" with such conviction and such a straight face that you want to believe it exists. It was also cute to see the little romance going on between her and Joseph...a queen and a chauffeur! There's hope for everyone. Now I'll nitpick: what was with the blond boy Mia had a crush on? His face looked like melted plastic. Every time he had a close-up I was startled, and lost track of the plot. And why, oh why, is the dramatic final scene always done in the rain? That has got to be the tiredest shtick ever trotted out in Hollywood. Why do the writers think that the defining moment of a movie is more dramatic if the character making the speech is dripping wet? But in the final analysis, I recommend this movie. No swearing, no smut, some genuine laughs, mostly likeable characters.
Not bad, not great
posted on 03 Feb 2009This has that Disney fairytale "touch" thing. Julie Andrews was great, why I saw the film in the first place. But the friends I went with (3 of them) all fell asleep! The movie's ok. It's got that "and they lived happily ever after..." plot. But I've seen better.
best film of 2001!
posted on 08 Aug 2009What a film! Forget the critics and academy who phonily nominate " artsy, serious" films like shakespeare in love, english patient's wife or this years's beuatiful mind year in year out for academy awards, this is the best I've seen in a longtime. The very very best! Anne Hathaway, a relative newcommer who had one brief tv series, sparkles and radiates and does everything else a princess does in the starring role of a nerdish girl who learns she's princess of a far off mythical country named Genovia. Julie Andrews shows why she is a dame , perfect, sassy and fittingly sophiscated every step of the way. Even Hector Elizondo gliters through his relatively small role as the bodyguard/chauffeur for said Genovian royalty. I believe Elizondo's young daughter also has a brief, cutesy cameo as a Genovian royal subject. Heather Matarazzo, from the well received bizarre Welcome To The Dollhouse about a prepubscent trying to fit in at home, school and the love business, is the quiessential best friend portrayer, the daffy, delightful, witty Lily. Mandy Moore shows her ability to handle acting well in her first filmed acting performance as the bitter, jealous, conniving Lana. Lastly the woman who plays Mia's ( Anne's) mom is fine too as a would be bohemian artist/sixties holdover. All in all the film is so well paced and easy going, likely mostly owed to the genius of producer/director gary Marshall who according to the dvd featurette comes across as so well liked. To me Marshall is as much the genius as is Coppola, Speilberg or Altman. The story also is fast, free flowing and fun- and funny, often funny. Lots of amazing slap stick andd gags exist here in tihs movie and Anne Hathaway in particualr is so god naturedly a natural at pratfalls. Anyway I say please se this movie, rent it now on vhs or dvd or even better buy it! worth owing for sure! I give it a 25 on a scale of 1- 10! Ultra recommended!!