Tonight's Movie: The Prince & Me (2004) - A Paramount Pictures Blu-ray Review

Has it really been over two decades since THE PRINCE & ME (2004) was first released in theaters?!

This delightful romance, which spawned a trio of sequels -- albeit with a different lead actress -- was released on Blu-ray this past fall, and I was glad to have a chance to revisit the movie after many years via this review.

Luke Mably plays Prince Edward of Denmark, a bored and somewhat irresponsible young man who decides on a change of scenery and heads to college in Wisconsin.

In that pre-social media age, "Eddie" successfully hides his true identity from his fellow students, despite being shadowed everywhere he goes by his valet Soren (Ben Miller). Eddie initially clashes with medical student Paige (Julia Stiles), but eventually he begins to show a more mature side, including getting a part-time job. When he helps Paige with a Shakespeare class and visits her family for Thanksgiving, they begin to grow close.

And then tabloid photographers track down Eddie, and Paige learns the truth. What's more, Eddie must return to Denmark, as his father (James Fox) is very ill and plans to abdicate.

Where will Eddie and Paige go from here?

THE PRINCE & Me is an engaging watch thanks to an enjoyable script and cast. It's not always completely probable -- i.e., would a dedicated medical student abandon her studies during the semester? -- but at the same time it's not as silly as it seems. After all, the current queen of Denmark, Mary, is originally from Australia, where she met a handsome man named Frederik in a pub during the Olympics. And then she learned he was the crown prince...

It's a shame that Mably and Stiles weren't reunited in the sequels, as they have a charming chemistry. They're entirely believable in their roles and are a large part of why the movie works as well as it does.

The movie is brightened by an amusing performance by Miller as Eddie's dour yet loyal righthand man; what he does with Eddie's dorm room alone is hilarious.  Kudos to the set designers for the transformation.

Miranda Richardson is also good as the steely queen, trying to protect her husband and push her son into growing up. Initially skeptical of Paige, her turnabout when she realizes Paige has played a significant role in Eddie becoming a more serious man is one of the best scenes in the film...especially when she then takes Paige on a tour of the royal jewel vault.

The movie also provides an interesting "so near and yet so far" look at life 20 years ago. No cell phones and social media; handwritten Bluebook tests; and students looking for rides home at Thanksgiving put signs up on bulletin boards rather than Facebook. In other words, rather as things were when I was in college!

THE PRINCE & ME runs 101 minutes. It was directed by Martha Coolidge from a script by Jack Amiel, Michael Begler, and Katherine Fugate, based on a story by Fugate and Mark Amin. Cinematography was by Alex Nepomniaschy, with location filming in Denmark and the Czech Republic. Canada stands in for Wisconsin.

The Blu-ray print is lovely, and the disc comes with plentiful extras: A trailer; a director commentary; an alternate ending and deleted scenes; three featurettes; and a gag reel.

The movie is rated PG; there's some passionate kissing but the film is appropriate for the entire family.

I've enjoyed THE PRINCE & ME now multiple times over the years and recommend it.

Thanks to Paramount Pictures and Allied Vaughn for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. THE PRINCE & ME may be purchased from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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