A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Princess Diaries II: Royal Engagement

Date Viewed: 8/21/04

Details:

Anne Hathaway

Julie Andrews

Hector Elizondo

John Rhys-Davies

Chris Pine

Director: Gary Marshall

Score: 0

The Review: Another plot to overturn the kingdom of Genovia; yawn.

Four or five years after The Princess Diaries wrapped up, this sequel comes to life. Sort of. But it dies on the vine -- even though Genovian pears do not grow on vines. There was much about the first entree that was clever, original, funny and/or entertaining; for some reason almost none of this came through the second time. Sequelitis? Likely: some plots (or characters) just don't work well repeatedly. Even with Hathaway, Andrews and Elizondo reprising their roles, it just doesn't have any sparkle. I think the clue to the reason why comes from the nature of the original's humor -- essentially a culture clash, stranger-in-a-strange-land type of apposition wrapped around a coming-of-age scenario -- which cannot be milked this time around, in part since almost all of the action, such that it is, happens in Genovia, and in part because of the hackneyed, worn-out plot threads.

Not bad; just not very good.

(21-Aug-04)

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