Two hours of trying to get you go “Awwwww…”That is Walt Disney’s Princess Diaries 2 Royal Engagement in a nutshell.
And director Garry Marshall tries every trick in the trade to make that possible — casting aww-so-cute babies to oh-so-cute cats and dogs to eligible boys presenting aww-so-cute diamond rings from a film roll can (Okay, Garry, we remember you did ‘Pretty Woman,’ don’t try so hard), bratty kids, a Genovian anthem, feel-good speeches, a pajama party with mattress-surfing, karaoke and more makeovers and ‘Princess Lessons’ thrown it generously make for an overdose.
Thus, Princess Diaries 2 is a wholesome corn-film festival. Yes, it’s American corn at its best, sprinkled with baby-corn and popcorn entertainment, strictly cooked up for those who like the variety at its corniest best.
Princess Mia returns to her kingdom of Genovia to learn that she would forfeit the throne if she does not find a match for herself in a month. After finding a suitable boy in a British suitor, the Princess finds herself attracted to the boy she would lose the throne to, if she does not meet the deadline.
The highlight of this assembly-line chick-flick is the line-up ofassorted comic characters who have, maybe, all of two lines in the entire movie. From the 12-year-old Prince who uses after-shaves to thethree-year-old-Her-Highness-who-wants-to-use-the-potty to the look-alike twins who hate each other to Lionel, the hyperactive intern with the security department to the almost psychotic maid of thescheming uncle Viscount Mabrey (John Rhys-Davies) — they are all hilarious.
Anne Hathaway reprises her role as Princess Mia and slips into act goofy and behave like she’s still 16 years old though she isofficially 21 (Screenplay: Meg Cabot and Gina Wenkos).
Julie Andrews, who plays Queen Clarisse, the grand-mom of thePrincess, gets to do quite a chunk of the crowd-pleaser acts — karaoke, mattress surfing, slow dancing with her love interest Joe (played by Hector Elizondo), Head of Security, apart from playing the understanding Queen and granny.
It might not be in the league of Garry Marshall\’s (‘Pretty Woman’ and’Princess Diaries’) regular work considering that the ‘cute’ elements seem so conveniently thrust into the wafer-thin excuse of a plot.
However, if you are still in high school or just joined college, grab some baked corn from the counter at Sathyam, sit back and enjoy your cuppa.
MADRAS INK. 