Plot: What’s it about?
Mia (Anne Hathaway) has been through a lot of changes in recent times, as she went from an unpopular girl at school to the heir to the throne of Genovia. She learned how to behave in royal situations, she was given a total makeover with splendid results, and she even dabbled in romance. But a lot has happened she was announced, including graduation from college and now, a trek to Genovia to claim her crown. Her grandmother (Julie Andrews) has served the people of Genovia well for decades, but she ready to pass the crown, as she feels Mia is ready to take on the position. So Mia ventures back to Genovia and while she has been prepared somewhat, nothing could prepare her for the trials and tribulations ahead. The main issue is a challenge to the throne, one put forth by a member of the nation’s elite government. Another candidate is proposed, a young male who has some stake to the throne. But Mia is the true heir and her grandmother is enraged by these claims, though she maintains herself in the proper manner. The law of Genovia is brought into play, as the law states that a female heir cannot take the throne unless she is married. Mia doesn’t even have a boyfriend, but if she wants to rule, she will need to find a suitable husband within a month’s time. She is against such an arranged marriage, but if her grandmother could make it work, so could she. After a process of elimination, she chooses a worthy beau and while the two do become friends, there is no romance between them. At the same time, Mia finds herself falling for the same young man who wants to take the throne for himself. As time winds down and she prepares to marry a man she doesn’t love, will Mia find some kind of peace with her decisions?
The original The Princess Diaries was a smash hit, thanks to a fun story, some great performances, and of course, star Anne Hathaway (Ella Enchanted). A sequel didn’t seem in the cards, given the basic premise, but of course, Disney wanted to cash in on the success. So we have The Princess Diaries 2, a movie that is passable and harmless, but fails to capture the same magic as the original. The storyline is typical stuff and no new spin is put on the material, so we’ve seen this before. Hathaway returns, as do cast members Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo, Tom Poston, Larry Miller, and Heather Matarazzo, as well as several other supporting cast members. So a strong connection remains with the original, a luxury not all sequels have, but in this case, the movie wouldn’t have worked without the core cast back in action. The plot continues from the first, but a convenient, archaic twist allows for this sequel. There is a lot new this time around too, such as new love interests and well, that is about all that is new in this sequel. I didn’t hate The Princess Diaries 2, I just expected too much, as I enjoyed the original much more than I anticipated. Hathaway is awesome and really brings the role to life, you can also tell she had fun, as that energy shows up on screen. I think we can rest easy that this is the last movie in the series however, or at least we can hope it is. The original was a lot of fun, but lightning doesn’t often strike twice and that is evident with this sequel. The movie is still worth a rental and Disney’s disc is well prepared, so fans of the original will want to make sure to give this sequel a look.
Video: How does it look?
The Princess Diaries 2 is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. The print used is very clean, with no serious defects, but there is a tad more grain present than I would like. The nature of the film used causes some grain to be appear, but I expected a cleaner print in that respect. But this never proves to be a huge issue, though some softness is evident throughout. Not a worn kind of softness mind you, more of a dreamy haze, but still, I figured this would have a slick, refined visual presence. Even so, the contrast is smooth and colors have a bright, bold appearance. So not as pristine and slick as I expected, but this is still a more than solid presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
The mix here is your basic comedy audio treatment, which means a solid overall experience, but not a very memorable one. The included Dolby Digital 5.1 option more than covers all the bases, but this material doesn’t allow for much power or depth, though the pop rock soundtrack does use the surrounds often. The rest of the audio is front channel based with a few exceptions, though that seems to be effective enough. The dialogue is clear as can be, with no volume errors in the least, a solid, but unremarkable track. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main supplement here is an audio commentary track, in which director Garry Marshall and star Julie Andrews talk about the movie. The session is passable, with mostly anecdotes and other brisk comments, with no real insight on the production. But I doubt fans are that interested in the technical side of this movie, so perhaps they’ll enjoy the session. This disc also includes a reel of bloopers, two behind the scenes featurettes, and the music video for Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway.
