Christmas Princess

First, this is not another girl meets royal prince story. It is also not a festive Christmas movie full of baking Christmas cookies and building snowmen and going on sleigh rides.

It starts out as a Cinderella story, but even then there are hints that all is not sugar and spice. It is based on a true story, but I have no idea how accurate it is. The story in this movie is about life with ups and downs and not just disappointing-Christmas-gifts downs. The story in this movie is about a scared little girl in an 18 year old body who needs to unlearn some of the lessons life has taught her.

There are many things that could be criticized in this movie. I don't think the acting is one of those things. Yes it's sappy and some of the things that happen seem unlikely, but there is a compelling story here and it needs to be taken in fully and it can touch the viewer's heart. And hopefully it leads to some thought. .There are a lot of good things here if you are open to them. And a bit of Cinderella too.

There is some talk about God, but not oppressively so. There is a bit of preaching, more about what Donaly has learned along the way than anything else.

This was a really good true story about a girl chosen to be on the Christmas float. Well worth watching. James Welch Henderson Arkansas 12/11/2020

Very well done true story. Acting is genuine and the characters deal with issues in a realistic manner. Love that it is based on the true story of Rose Parade princess Donaly Marquez.

As a former foster child, Donaly has undergone numerous traumatic events. These are Experiences she still struggles with even as a popular student in a stable, adopted home with her birth siblings.

The film does an excellent job portraying her increasing fears even as she progresses through the Rose Princess levels.

My parent was a former foster kid adopted by a loving family, but despite their success in adulthood, numerous degrees and a stable middle class home, I remember my parent's ongoing fear of the other shoe dropping.

The acting was realistic and showed how a teen navigates that experience while trying to reach out, yet fearing to do so. Despite her harrowing backstory, the editors/directors/writers avoided trauma milking save through small flashes.

What also remained notable is as this teen navigated these difficult experiences, her adopted parents and even close friends, knowing her difficulty, couldn't stop putting their own pressure on her, which is also pretty realistic.

This was definitely warmhearted. There are a couple mentions of Christianity, for those anti-religion, but not overwhelmingly so. Overall, it's nice to have another holiday movie entry that allows for a bittersweet backstory with holiday warmth.

Donaly Marquez (Nicole Muñoz) is a foster kid with issues about her troubled birth mom. She was adopted by the Marquez family. She tries out to be one of the princesses in the Tournament of Rose Parade.

The first half is rather flat. Donaly is probably suffering from PTSD and depression. The actress is holding it all in with her performance. The selection process is not that dramatic and I don't want it to be that movie anyways. The mother is the wild card and her entry into the story throws everything up in the air. This seems to be based on a true story and I don't expect anything crazy. If not, then the writing is too flat. The mother is one of the very few bumps in the road but nothing comes from it except for one intense scene. The story needs more intensity.