A Princess for Christmas

I watch this movie every Christmas and it never disappoints! It's fun and light-hearted. The Christmas decorations are beautiful and the castle is gorgeous! It has great leads and a nice story. Overall, it's a great Christmas movie to watch for the holidays.

Wonderful movie.

How about seeing Sir Roger Moore in one of his last roles and Outlander star Sam Heughan (perhaps the new Bond after Craig) in one movie.

I like all kinda movies, as long as they're well executed. And this one is just a fun movie to see.

Check it out when you get the chance.

There are slight offerings from cable channels (Ion, Freeform, BET) and then there are deluges (Hallmark, Lifetime) when it comes to Christmas movies. And I've seen EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM (it takes me until March to view them on the DVR). Although I don't have the time to comment on all of them, I certainly have enough experience under my belt to review this pleasant, unassuming entry from 2011. It stars Katie McGrath (Supergirl) and a slight Sam Heughan (before he became rugged and buff for Outlander).

To acknowledge the elephants in the room: -Yes, the American accents of the non-Americans playing Americans do noticeably slip. -Yes, it's a fairy tale and redundant; nothing new here. -Yes, Katie McGrath smiles way too much. -Yes, the brashness of Americans is overplayed to create an unsubtle chasm on cultural differences for the sake of the plot.

However, I found the movie to be quite charming, with flawless chemistry between the two leads. At least 90% of the Christmas movies I view are awful and forgettable (sorry, Hallmark). But this offering takes a tired formula and refreshes it with real life situations (an aunt raising an orphan niece and nephew) and kids who actually ACT LIKE KIDS, not sickly sweet and/or perfect angels (thank you, Michael Damian). In short, acknowledge the flaws, but enjoy the performances and the stunning, breathtaking scenery.

The biggest problem I found was that a 24 year old man was cast to play a "teenager" and older brother to a seven year old whose parents were likely in their early 30's. If they took the time to cast a young child for the little girl, why couldn't they do the same for the son? The actor is so out of place, it ruins the movie. His face doesn't match with his words and actions. Katie McGrath is only four years older that the actor. It seems so fake when she is talking to him as an adult to a child.

Also, some of the mannerisms of the character of Jules Daly do not match. She does not seem to be the kind of person who would put her elbows on the table at a formal dinner in a castle, or grab sandwiches from a tray and run out of a room. These things are an annoyance because it looks like she does them because it calls for her to do it as an actress, not because the character would do these things.

Overall, I found it very hard to stay focused on the movie.

A romantic, modern day fairy tale that is perfect for all the family, but especially for young girls and their Mothers, Grandmothers and their Granddaughters, Aunts & nieces, etc.

Boys, be warned, this may all be a tad emotionally mushy for your taste, but who knows, you may learn some wonderful manners during the process of watching it. Every little girl (and we are all little girls at heart), dreams of being treated like a princess, whether they like to admit it or not.

The beautiful Katie McGrath plays the lead female role and I felt at times, she gave a rather wooden performance that actually enhanced her displays of awkwardness in an unfamiliar situation and so rather than distance the viewer, it actually made her character more endearing to them.

It was wonderful to see Sir Roger Moore acting again, in his typical, suave male role.

A wonderful Christmas Fairy Story.