A great movie adaptation of "The Princess Diaries" (The Princess Diaries (DVD))

Member Name: Jcapulet

Product:	The Princess Diaries (DVD)
Date:	29/11/08 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots

Disadvantages: Not as good as the second, but still great.

Great little film made from the Princess Diaries books, although I'll admit to prefering Princess Diaries 2 ( although that maybe due to Chris Pine *yum* ) but they're actually very different films.
The first Princess Diaries film takes an awkward, geeky and unpopular character called Mia ( played by Anne Hathaway ) and transforms her into a confident and mature young woman. The film begins by making the viewer aware of a typical day in Mia's life, quietly persued by a shy Michael ( brother of Mia's best friend Lilly, played by Robert Schwartzman ) unbeknownst to Mia and we see her close friendship with Lilly. They're seen as somewhat social outcasts in school and here we see just how much Mia suffers from lack of confidence, especially when she treated like the school geek on a daily basis and here we learn of Mia's attraction to Josh, the boyfriend of Lana the cheerleading captain and one of her main detractors in school.

Then her life changes. Just before her 16th birthday, Mia's maternal grandmother ( mother of her late father, played by Julie Andrews ) arrives from Genovia to inform Mia that since the death of her father it is she who is in line to the Genovian throne. Of course Mia is shocked since she knew nothing about this and is angry with her mother for never telling her. However, whilst at first Mia is very reluctant she agrees to the idea in principle and this is when her "Princess training" by her teacher, her Grandmother Queen Clarisse Renaldi begins.
First, she has a make-over ( the hairdresser in question , Paolo, played by Larry Miller, known to me as the smarmy store manager in Pretty Woman ) and is eventually transformed, after a few comical disasters, into the beautiful young woman she was always capable of being with a little more confidence. Throughout her training she has the use of the Queen's personal bodyguard Joseph ( played by Hector Elizondo, another Pretty woman actor !! The hotel manager ) which sparks the beginning of a trusting friendship between them. However, her friendship with Lilly and Michael begins to suffer and Mia lets them down on a couple of occasions. One occasion being because Josh asks Mia to accompany him to a beach party ( after the school/everyone else finds out that Mia is in line to become Genovian royalty ) which she excitedly accepts but things happen which cause her great embarrassment and negative media publicity.
However, as much as her Grandmother is 'not pleased' to say the least she is reminded of the fact that she is still a young woman and is her Grand-daughter, not just Heir to the throne and they become close again.
Then the times comes for Mia to decide whether she will publicly accept the role of being Heir to the throne at a ball. She tries to make up it up with her friends Lilly and Michael ( who she now realises is the boy for her, not Josh and both Lilly and Michael accept her apology and attend the ball ) and although there is a mishap on the way involving her car and being helped by Joseph, Mia ( in no fit state for a Princess !! LOL !! ) arrives to claim acceptance to the role of heir.

A great chick flick film and one to watch before the second one to get a good understanding of relationships etc in the second film. I'd say suitable for all ages, probably more suitable for girls aged 7-8 and upwards.

Summary: A great unconfident duckling- to confident swan type film that girls will just love !!