The Princess Diaries (2001)
Directed by Garry Marshall
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.
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The Princess Diaries is the latest in a seemingly endless line of Pygmalion-inspired films about ugly ducklings who are turned into beautiful swans.
This is, of course, the same kind of Pygmalion story which launched Andrews herself to fame as Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady all those years ago.
But while she skeptically contemplates accepting or renouncing her royalty -- and the responsibility and exposure that would come with it -- Mia does acquiesce to getting the "Pygmalion" treatment from her grandma (the oh-so-apropos Julie Andrews) during daily visits to the Genovian consulate.
It all began with George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, and was softened in The Big Sleep (1946) when Humphrey Bogart, waiting out a rainstorm in a bookstore, turned to Dorothy Malone and asked, "do you really need to wear those glasses?"
A similar theme in My Fair Lady was also acceptable to me.
This is, of course, the same kind of Pygmalion story which launched Andrews herself to fame as Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady all those years ago.
It's also a treat to have Andrews -- the actress who rose to fame playing such protegees as Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady" and "Cinderella" in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name -- back on the screen again, brightening up every one of her scenes just by being there.
Those of us who've fretted for years over Julie Andrews being dumped for Audrey Hepburn for the screen version of "My Fair Lady" can finally calm down — sort of.
So the story is a kind of "My Fair Lady," with Andrews taking on the Henry Higgins role of giving the girl a spectacular makeover, teaching her manners, filling her with noblesse oblige and overcoming her heel-dragging reluctance.
Adapted from Meg Cabot's novel by Gina Wendkos ("Coyote Ugly"), "The Princess Diaries" blends bits of "My Fair Lady," "Anastasia," and "Pocketful of Miracles" for its tale of a commoner whose royal grandmother grooms her for a global stage.
These veteran actors brighten up the screen momentarily and made me wonder what they wouldve been like co-starring in The King and I instead of Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr --- or perhaps even now in a senior version of Dirty Dancing.
It all began with George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, and was softened in The Big Sleep (1946) when Humphrey Bogart, waiting out a rainstorm in a bookstore, turned to Dorothy Malone and asked, "do you really need to wear those glasses?"
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Watch Madeline Kahn in Young Frankenstein for proof.
Adapted from Meg Cabot's novel by Gina Wendkos ("Coyote Ugly"), "The Princess Diaries" blends bits of "My Fair Lady," "Anastasia," and "Pocketful of Miracles" for its tale of a commoner whose royal grandmother grooms her for a global stage.
In her movie debut, Anne Hathaway is so Audrey Hepburn-esque -- and so obviously and infectiously having the time of her life -- that she almost single-handedly elevates the film above its weak spots to work as a pleasant little "Roman Holiday" in reverse.
The Princess Diaries has been directed by Garry Marshall, who's covered this sort of terrain before with Pretty Woman.
This is all very familiar territory for Marshall, who directed Pretty Woman over a decade ago.
The Princess Diaries In the seductive adult fairy tale "Pretty Woman," a call girl played by Julia Roberts morphs into a fair lady under the attentive ministrations of…
The perfectly serviceable plot begs for a "Legally Blonde" makeover, but director Garry Marshall, who can take credit for turning Julia Roberts into a princess with "Pretty Woman," seems intent on making a movie that would have gotten Walt Disney's approval.
Director Garry Marshall also did Pretty Woman (an R-rated version of this same story), so he knows how to effectively hit the emotional moments to connect with the audience.
The film was directed by Garry Marshall, who turned "Pretty Woman" into a fairy tale for big girls 11 years ago.
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There is the prissy makeover stylist, stupid school teachers and administrators, and even Mia'a mother, Helen, (Caroline Goodall of "Schindler's List"), seemed like she was zoned out most of the time.
These veteran actors brighten up the screen momentarily and made me wonder what they wouldve been like co-starring in The King and I instead of Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr --- or perhaps even now in a senior version of Dirty Dancing.