Un principe per l'estate

I've been reading the reviews on this title and I think some people don't understand what Hallmark offers. It offers simple stories that usually end happily. The royal series does the same. In this movie, the two main actors make a cute couple. The story is, of course, somewhat predictable, but not entirely so. The audience watching the movie probably is from the age of 12 and up. Too complex would ruin it for them. This one is actually a bit different than the other royal movies and is lovely. It succeeds in making the audience watch the movie, enjoy it and leave smiling. These are not high budget movies. For those that have more complex plots and fancier special effects, go to the movie theater. Also, this in not filmed in Canada which is where most of the Hallmark films are filmed recently, but in Utah. Enjoy the movie!

If you were planning on a trip though Europe, don't worry about it - just watch My Summer Prince - the actors attempts at an English accent will transport you (anywhere but Britain that is).

Without giving too much away, we're pleased that ketchup got its sponsor deal out of this. In fact it featured so often, we think it should be given credit among the main cast. In all seriousness though, what was it with the ketchup?!

So many questions, so little answers.

Mandy Cooper (Taylor Cole) is a hard working assistant to New York PR guru Deidre Kelly (Lauren Holly). When Mandy asks for more responsibility, she is immediately put down by Deidre. Playboy Prince Colin (Jack Turner) is their new client. After another one of his hijinx in a small Idaho town, the royal fixer Penelope Sheridan (Marina Sirtis) is sent. Deidre comes down with chicken pox and Mandy has to take the place of her boss.

The Prince is an entitled brat. He's great as the client. As a romantic partner, there is much to be desired. He does have the pretty boy looks and the possibility of redemption. It would actually work better if Penelope is the guy. Colin is a poor little rich guy and he's not the type that I could root for. As for the lie, it seems to be an easy one to spin to Deidre. Just say the royal entourage wouldn't accept an assistant to lead. Being a PR person, one would expect her to be able to spin. It's not the worst thing to tell the truth to Colin either. He would probably find the lie hilarious if it's done early enough. He would be able to play along and get one over Penelope. Essentially, the problems aren't problems. The prince isn't done well. All girls want to be princesses. At least, that's what Hallmark is selling here and it's a bright, cotton candy confection. It's another way to eat sugar.

This viewer never gives anything low ratings and negative reviews with pleasure or relish. Have always aimed to be encouraging and see the good in even the bad, and this philosophy has always applied to all my viewings of Hallmark's output. Hallmark have done good and more films in my view. They even did some good ones in 2016, one of the best ones being a Summer Nights film ('Summer Villa'). Hallmark have done a lot of royalty romance films and some of it have been quite nice.

'My Summer Prince' is one of the ones that didn't work, and in most areas. Didn't think it was that awful and a few (emphasis on few) good things can be seen here. It however has many significant debits that are found in a lot of Hallmark's royalty films and of the 2016 Summer Nights Hallmark films it is a contender for the worst, coming from someone who liked the previous two ('Summer Villa' and 'For Love and Honour', especially as said already the former) in that block for that year.

Am going to start with the good. There are two good performances. Jack Turner is the very definition of a Prince Charming, being charming and dashing with a charisma that always looks natural. The other standout is the much needed energetic yet dignified spark that is Marina Sirtis.

Did think that the scenery was still nice generally, despite the film in general looking cheap. The odd moment amuses.

However, a lot doesn't work. Have always been mixed on Taylor Cole, she has given good performances in other films but here she came over as rather bland and her attempts at acting and sounding younger than she was was too affected. The worst performance comes from Lauren Holly, whose increasingly irritating cartoon of a character felt out of place and overdone. Only Turner's character is likeable and his and Cole's chemistry is lukewarm at best and is too often low key. Development-wise, there isn't really any and instead one of those just there relationships.

Furthermore, 'My Summer Prince' doesn't even look good other than the scenery. Too over saturated, over-decorated and choppily edited. There is nothing memorable about the music and it could have been used a good deal less. A lot of the dialogue induces a lot of cringing in the seat, Cole and Turner's interactions in no way sounding like everyday conversation even in that circumstances and Holly's dialogue stinks from all the cheesiness that pours out of it. The story is very weak, over-familiar territory with even more over-familiar execution with very little charm, fun or much at stake. How it all ends is never in any doubt almost immediately.

Overall, very mediocre. 4/10.

These royal movies are always unrealistic but at least this one had some deliberately funny moments.