I didn’t review the 2018 original, but I watched and thoroughly enjoyed it (disagreeing a bit with the Scrooge, I mean writer), understanding where it comes from and the intent of its message. This year we get the second installment, “The Princess Switch: Switched Again” and while a bit more wacky than the first, it’s still a fun movie to watch this time of year.
Vanessa Hudgens is becoming the face for Netflix Christmas flicks, and proves she is an underrated actress. Hudgens again plays dual characters in Princess Stacy and Lady Margaret, both of which return from the original, as well as a third character in the form of the antagonist; socialite and Ne’er-do-well, Lady Fiona Pembroke. Hudgens does a great job with all the characters, giving each their own subtle touches to have them stand out. Hudgens is effectively portraying one character with an English accent, one character with an American accent pretending to be English, and a third character that has a natural English accent pretending to sound American. It’s a tough feat if you think about it, and Hudgens pulls it off flawlessly, all the while looking magnificent.
The need for the switch is what makes the movies so fun, and while it was a pretty seamless transition in the original, it’s not as organic this time around. New romantic angles are introduced and they actually work to make the story as believable as it could possibly be, but I’ll admit, once there are three Hudgens’ at play, it does get a bit confusing.
The remaining cast returns from the original, with Nick Sagar as Kevin, Sam Palladio as Prince Edward, Suanne Braun as Mrs. Donatelli, and the hysterical Mark Fleischmann as Frank. All of which are solid in supporting roles. We get brief glimpses of Chicago in December but most of the festivities again occur amidst the royal life across the pond. “The Princess Switch: Switched Again” will give you exactly what you expect. It’s fun, shouldn’t be taken too seriously, and now begs for a Part 3.
