Un Noël de princesse

Hallmark does seem to do a nice line in "I'm dating an actual Prince/King" films, and this is an example.

It's not my favourite sort of Hallmark film, but Lacey Chabert as ever manages to make it work (just about), as her character stays true to herself amongst all the royal pomp and ex Bond girl Jane Seymour's character hissing in the background.

Good fun overall.

While there were parts that were good, and I've watched it a few times (silly but sometimes heart-warming and cute), Hallmark made the American characters appear warm-hearted but classless, goofy, and downright stupid. Royalty doesn't float around the US falling in love & marrying classless, poorly-dressed dolts who would call a queen "your majesty-ness". Further, it's highly unlikely that Prince William walked into Buckingham Palace with Kate on his arm without Kate having some serious coaching, and untrained staff would likely never serve a queen. As for the comparison to 'a princess for Christmas', the only thing I will mention is that both movies portrayed the (American) women as weak and sloppy with neither having a decent career or job, and the costumes were hideous. Jane Seymour had some good lines, but she is portrayed a heartless witch with no other purpose, and the staff is portrayed as incompetent idiots. Victor and the Baroness are the only characters I really liked. More work next year Hallmark.

I enjoyed this Hallmark movie. The formula works - a girl falls in love with guy who turns out to be a prince. They travel to his European kingdom where she doesn't quite seem suitable enough a match.

The lead actors are watchable enough. Lacey Chabert isn't stunningly beautiful but she is likable and isn't annoying. Jane Seymour acts well as the disapproving queen. She is still very slim. It's refreshing to see an actress not having undergone plastic surgery, unlike some actresses of her age. Her real life daughter Katie Flynn has a role here. The prince's accent sounds a bit un royal at times.

One fault: The costumes are a bit cheap looking even taking into account it's a TV movie and not a big budget feature like "The Princess Diaries".

Worth one watch.

I liked this despite myself, it was just so horribly addictive even though you knew exactly what was going to happen about 5 minutes in, right down to the little orphan girl and the Queens first love. This has a fairy tale (Cinderella or Pretty Woman) like quality to it which I guess we all secretly covet or at least Hallmark thinks we do.

Here a prince posing as a common (college student) must reveal the truth about his royal lineage to his girlfriend -a seamstress from Philadelphia- who then must try to impress Leopold's mother, Queen Isadora when the couple travel to the castle (in the made up land of Cordinia) to spend the holidays with his family.

I did enjoy Stephen Hagon who played the Prince, just a nice guy and his love interest (Lacy Chabert) was okay too, a bit too perky maybe. Jane Seymour was actually very good here, she gave me several laughs with her sneering, cold, bitchiness.

There are some fun 'Upstairs Downstairs' or 'Downton Abby' moments as "Emily" bonds with the castle staff and I suppose this couple is meant to resemble William and Kate to further pull us into the fantasy. Regardless, I enjoyed this is a very simple sort of way. 12/16/14

Hallmark seems fascinated with the whole Prince falls madly in love with unsuitable American girl. Or vice versa. This one is perhaps my favorite. The couple meet and the whole Royal Family thing doesn't really enter into their relationship. Until, Prince has to go home for coronation. Naturally he brings his girlfriend with him.

Jane Seymour is a great actress. Why do they always put her in movies where she has to act like a total bi_ch? We all know the family is going to disapprove. We also know that the Prince will get his girl in the end, otherwise, what's the point?

Anyway, Lacey Chabert is, as always, bubbly, effervescent, charming. She charms all the staff at the palace. There is, per usual, the "royal" who wants to marry the prince and causes trouble.

But overall, a charming movie. Worth having in your top 10 list.