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Title: The Princess Diaries (2001)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Julie Andrews | ... | Queen Clarisse Renaldi | |
| Anne Hathaway | ... | Mia Thermopolis | |
| Hector Elizondo | ... | Joe | |
| Heather Matarazzo | ... | Lilly Moscovitz | |
| Mandy Moore | ... | Lana Thomas | |
| Caroline Goodall | ... | Mia's Mom, Helen | |
| Robert Schwartzman | ... | Michael Moscovitz | |
| Erik von Detten | ... | Student Josh Bryant (as Erik Von Detten) | |
| Patrick John Flueger | ... | Student Jeremiah Hart (as Patrick Flueger) | |
| Sean O'Bryan | ... | Teacher Mr. O'Connell | |
| Sandra Oh | ... | Vice Principal Gupta | |
| Kathleen Marshall | ... | Charlotte Kutaway | |
| Mindy Burbano | ... | Gym Teacher Harbula | |
| Kimleigh Smith | ... | Music Teacher Wells (as Kim Leigh) | |
| Elizabeth Gudenrath | ... | Cheerleader Anna (as Beth Anne Garrison) | |
Mia Thermopolis is the average teenager - sweet, a little geeky and pretty much invisible to everyone with the exception of her mother, best friend Lilly and Lilly's older brother Michael. Making it through high school without throwing up is a challenge in itself for Mia, so it doesn't come as welcome news when her estranged grandmother shows up out of the blue and calmly informs her that she is in fact the heir to the throne of a European country called Genovia. Suddenly Mia's life is thrown into complete overload. She's being taught about scarves, waves and pears in order to become a perfect princess, she gets a makeover and a tough looking yet sweet bodyguard/limo driver called Joe. Things get out of hand when the media gets a hold of the story and suddenly Mia is thrust into the spotlight in both the newspapers and in school. On top of all that Mia has a choice to make. She must decide by Genovia's Independence Day Ball whether she longs to relinquish her claim on the throne or to... Written by LadyN1
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When I was 32 years old, back in 2001 when this movie came out, I took my then 7 year old daughter to see this move. As a parent I often have to suffer through books my children read to me, music they like, and television shows & movies that I have no desire to see. The previews made this movie look like the standard Disney channel fluff I occasionally have to endure. However, I found that I actually enjoyed this movie.
Garry Marshall basically redressed his PRETTY WOMAN storyline for kids. He even brought in Hector Elizondo, the hotel manager in PW, as the head security officer for the Queen of Genovia, who is played by Julie Andrews. The story also has aspects of the LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY novel in it.
The story is not all that original. A long lost heir to the throne of Genovia has been identified as a klutzy teenager who lives in San Francisco. The Queen of Genovia goes to San Francisco and attempts to persuade her to come back to Genovia and take her place as a princess of the realm. From their the typical hijinks ensue. The princess gets an education in proper royal behavior & procedures. The Queen learns to loosen up and relax. Princess Mia also struggles between dating the school jock, who ignored her before she became famous and dating an unpopular guy who has been her friend for years.
The story is predictable and hold no real surprises. Despite this I still found myself enjoying the film. Julie Andrews did well in her role as the Queen and it was a treat to see her in another Disney film. I was surprised by how well Anne Hathaway did in her role as Princess Mia. She held her own against such performers as Andrews and Elizondo. This movie could have come off as cheezy but thanks to the director and skilled actors it proved to be a real treat. I remember back in 1990 when PW came out that girls thought it was so romantic that a hooker could find romance, true love and wealth. In my opinion PD is a much better role model. I'd rather have my little girl wishing she that she was heir to throne than a hooker who happens to find true love.
Anyway, thanks to my daughter I discovered a film that I really enjoyed It is also because of her that I just saw the sequel, PD-2. It was even better than PD.