A Princess for Christmas (2011)

Good idea lost in the noise

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Yes this story is absolutely ridiculous. In fact, I thought it went even beyond most of the other stories of this type. But that doesn't mean it isn't fun to watch.Jules and her niece and nephew have had a heartbreaking struggle in the loss of her sister and their parents. But we get to see the wonder of children living the fairy tale at Christmas. Leilah de Meza is totally cute as the little girl who doesn't care that her grandpa is a duke. She even overlooks his grumpiness and just loves him.There are some silly but fun scenes as the common folk meet the stiff royalty and sometimes try to loosen them up.

This is a modern live action fairy tale that works as a Christmas movie. Hollywood and television come out with new holiday films each season, so to be interesting a new film should have an original plot. "A Princess for Christmas" does have such a different plot. It's a story with two or three twists that work together nicely. Katie McGrath plays Jules Daly, a young woman who has taken in her nephew and niece to raise after they lost their parents the previous Christmas. We don't learn how they died, so it's safe to assume it was a car accident. There's also no mention of maternal grandparents – the parents of Katie and her dead sister. So, we have to assume that they too are deceased. That can explain why Katie is the guardian of Milo and Maddie Huntington, played very well by Travis Turner and Leila de Meza. As Christmas approaches, Jules has just been let go from work in an antique store. She has become something of an expert on antiques, but business has been so slow that the owner reluctantly has to lay her off. She has had a nanny watch the kids during the daytime – its now Christmas vacation. But Milo and Maddie get into mischief. This is a part of the story that doesn't sit quite right. The mischief of Maddie and Milo is everyday type of stuff that most families encounter, but the nanny, Mrs. Kelly can't cope, so she quits. Maria Junghetu plays Mrs. Kelly, but this character is a goof off in the first place. She's sitting down and working puzzles in the newspaper instead of paying attention to the kids. So, Katie is at wit's end when she gets a knock on her door. She opens the door to Paisley Winterbottom, the butler to the Duke of Castlebury. Miles Richardson is very good and likable as the butler and Roger Moore plays Edward, the Duke. The duke is the grandfather of Milo and Maddie. He disowned his son, Charles, when he married Katie's sister (whose name I don't think we ever learn). It's been years, but now he would like them all to visit him for Christmas at Castlebury Hall. At first, Katie rejects the plane tickets and check for expenses, and the butler expressed the duke's regrets for his past behavior. But, with poor prospects for the rest of the holiday season, Katie finally accepts. The next we see, they are being driven to Castlebury. We don't know what country this is in, and although everyone speaks English, it's not in England. When one of the three ask the butler where Castlebury is located, he replies "a stone's throw from Liechenstein." That small country (just over 60 square miles) is bordered by Austria on the east and by Switzerland on the north, west and south. So, the fictional Castlebury would likely be located in Switzerland. The filming was done in and around castles in Romania. As they approach the scenic end of their car ride, Katie tells the kids that they can't break anything in this place. They meet the staff, the duke and his other son (their uncle), Ashton, Prince of Castlebury (played by Sam Heughan). The rest of the story is peppered with comedy as the duke adjusts to his grandkids and their aunt. And as a romance buds between Katie and Ashton, the fairy tale story unfolds with the kids from this point relegated to small appearances. One can guess the ending easily enough. It's a nice and enjoyable film because the plot is different and refreshing. And, although the adjustment of the duke and his crowd to the ways of less formal lower class Americans, seems a bit contrived, the acting overall is quite good. McGrath is a fine actress and the kids are very good. Heughan is very good as the prince, and most of the staff are very good. Roger Moore seemed to be having fun, perhaps overdoing it some, maybe even adding a little ham. That's all the more reason I think most people will enjoy this film.

Watched this having heard that Sam Heughan had been picked to play Jamie Fraser. Spurred on by the fact Katie McGrath was also in this (loved her in Merlin!) Really enjoyed this easy to watch Christmas film, Sam was definitely the best thing in it! Although the children put in good performances too. I won't go into the story too much, but one of my favourite scenes has to be the dance lesson and their initial first meeting. My only down point (and the reason I gave 9 instead of 10) was Katies's accent which did waiver a little through out the film. Should have just stayed with her natural accent. My 5 year old also sat with me and also enjoyed it, and wanted to marry the prince at the end of the film :-)

I just watched this movie and I was deeply impressed by the story and the actors. The movie basically brings out the best in people and renews the belief in Christmas, family love and happy endings. The story is simple yet elegant. After playing the evil Morgana in Merlin, Katie McGrath plays Jules Daly, an American heroine who wants to spend a good Christmas with her nephew and niece. She is receives a visit from Paisley Winterbottom, a butler working for the kids' grandfather, invites them all to celebrate Christmas with their grandfather at England. There, Jules falls in love with Prince Ashton, and the two prepare to celebrate Christmas in the best way possible.It may seem cliché and a Cinderella ripoff, but believe, the movie is awesome. It's not perfect, it can be predictable sometimes, but the movie accomplishes its job at helping people believe in the virtues of Christmas.I highly recommend this movie. That's it, good watching!