La princesse et le bodyguard

This is another mediocre Reel One Entertainment TV movie. It's about fictional European royal family, rebellious princess trope, and includes many royal family stereotypes. Obviously, it was used so many times that you know what you are going to watch. However, execution is bad. Let me explain.

Audio production is weird. There is barely any obnoxiously loud background music which is shockingly positive suprise for a ROE TV movie, but dialogue recording is a huge mess. In one scene, everything is ok, and in the next, it's just bad and it's like that in the whole movie. I never heard something like that. They overused stock footage so viewers think the movie location is in NYC as was stated several times, but even carefully shoot outdoor scenes reveal typical Canada urban scenery, and this time, like many other times, it's Hamilton. There are several outright bad cuts. The main actress had bad makeup most of the movie. I can overlook everything above if at least direction and writing were somehow compentent, and sadly they are not.

Acts I and II are almost full comedy. There is barely any romance. There is one scene in Act II when movie literally parodies itself! And then in Act III, you guess, sudden and forced drama for no reason at all. Did I mention that "romance" between main leads was totally forced and unnatural?

Like in the best and worst ROE tradition, you can watch the whole movie compressed in 2:05 min long trailer.

This movie is playing right now and so this review is fresh. Lexi (Alexia)is the only child of the King and Queen of (insert fake European country) has been living in New York (actually Ontario made to look like New York - but we aren't supposed to know this and so are pretending it's NY). Her parents arrive to announce she must return to fake European country and be ready to take on the role she was born into. Of course this does not sit well with Lexi, who can't even be bothered to dress up to meet her parents for lunch in a 5 star hotel wearing her denim jumpsuit with zipper in front. Lexi presents herself as an artsy-fartsy type who owns her own gallery/shop complete with poor manners. Her room-mate Chrissie (played by AnnaMaria Demara) is extremely annoying and acts far too overprotective of Lexi, like a jealous girlfriend, rather than a roommate. Also she needs a job since she quit her last one, but shows up at her first prospect in the ritzy 5 star hotel poorly dressed (a denim blazer - really?) and then has the nerve to ask if the apples (put out for hotel guests) are free, because she skipped breakfast. Not a great interview impression. She also fails at all her other interviews because she is too rude. She even disses a Fred Astaire and Gingee Rogers movie, complaining that it is too old fashioned (ummm...really? I'm no rocket scientist, but maybe the fact that it was produced in the 1940's might have something to do with it) Both these women are supposedly in their mid-thirties but act like immature twenty-year old college grads. The acting is really bad in this one, especially the one single reporter, who discovers Lexi's true identity and gets in her face but is blocked by Noah (played by Ryan Bruce) who is Lexi's bodyguard. Anyway fast forward to the end because the movie is all too predictable. Princess Lexi and the Bodyguard start falling for each other even as her parents (the King and Queen of the fake European country) are trying to set her up with bachelors of the upper crust - but Lexi finds herself becoming more and more attracted to her bodyguard. They have the usual misunderstanding and then of course profess their love for each other at the end and everyone is happy - even the jobless mooch of a roommate gets a job as some sort of royal lacky, which is strange since she absolutely detests royals in any shape or form, and even freaks out when she finds out Lexi is a Princess.

I can't recall watching a rom-com that portrayed royalty authentically, it's usually a stupid script by a writer who knows nothing about real royalty. Some writers try, but the bulk are just lame like this one. The heir to a fictitious throne has to return to her country after living for15 years in NYC, isn't really believable.

Emily Alatalo is a poor actress, her character doesn't have the manners and class that you'd expect from someone trained for a royal role. Guess there must be a market for B, C & D level films like this one. There are a few good actors, but most seem like 1st year drama students who haven't worked in front of a camera before. AnnaMaria Demara is also bad casting.

The early part of this movie caught my interest because so much was different from the usual Royal movies, of which I am not a fan. For starters, Lexi, the princess, is living independently in NYC and making her own way. She has been for 10 years. Her parents, including the King, have given her a great deal of freedom and they discuss any differences of opinion openly and reasonably for the most part. There are no ogres and while these parents are somewhat protective, they are not in any way the usual overbearing parents. There is one exception - the bodyguard and Lexi doesn't waste a lot of time objecting to it.

Lexi must go on three dates to audition, if you will, prospects for her date to a Gala. The first two are the usual cliche bad dates. Meanwhile most things are developing predictably. And much of that part of the movie is spent showing Lexi agonizing and considering her choice for the future. That and getting to know her bodyguard, Noah.

The acting is OK. The story is OK but predictable with no great highs or lows or surprises. The dialogue is also OK, but not sparkling. I had no complaints about sound or sets. Ryan Bruce's Noah is a very cold fish in the beginning and I was worried he would have no personality, but as things progressed, he opened up and there was some chemistry with Emily Alatalo. Alatalo's Lexi is appealing both in personality and appearance.

Please Allow me a personal note: in a movie world of angst- or blood and gore-or animated children's fare, there needs to be a place where you can enjoy laughs, joy, a bit of drama, and many smiles. This is one of those.

A bit off-kilter from the usual story, with it's very human, and surprisingly realistic list of characters, I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the different people, which in many cases I had not seen on screen before. These beautiful souls made the movie a more real slice of life which we so rarely see in movies with predictable characters as in most movies.

So, I highly recommend this movie. Really. For a simple, sometimes complicated-but realistic-view of lives with a honest look at people who are not all stereotypes, but rather those we see and/or know in our own lives.... Watch and Enjoy!