In December of 2011, I stumbled across a then-new Hallmark Christmas movie called “A Princess for Christmas.” After schooling some clowns on an IMDb discussion board, I took a step back and looked at “Princess” from an objective standpoint and deduced two things. The first is that the Michael Damian film is not going to sniff Oscar considerations on the merit of writing, acting, concept, or depth (if such an awards existed). The second is that despite the aforementioned, “A Princess for Christmas” is a fantastic holiday movie filled with the type of smiles and warmth one could only wish be bestowed upon their actual lives, and is now a must watch movie for me each and every Christmas season.
The opening narration identifies Jules Daly (Katie McGrath) who resides “once upon a time in a land called Buffalo.” Jules has a sharp eye for antiques, and works as a salesperson in an antique shop. Though she had always dreamed of travel, she unfortunately has never been able to get out of Buffalo.
Jules is the legal guardian of her feisty nephew Milo and niece Maddie (Travis Turner and Leilah de Meza) and has been since last Christmas season, when her sister and brother-in-law were killed in an accident. Poor sales cause Jules to get laid off, but that doesn’t stop her from being optimistic and joyful when helping Maddie grasp the concept of Christmas and Santa. The older Milo still harbors feelings of depression, and associates his parents death with the Christmas season.
The family is visited by the eloquent Paisley Winterbottom (Miles Richardson) who announces he is the butler for their estranged grandfather (Roger Moore) the Duke of Castlebury. The Duke disowned his son for marrying Jules’ sister since she wasn’t of royal lineage; however a change of heart has caused him to send for his family in order to spend Christmas with them. Paisley (being a “tad economical with the truth”) gets the family to agree to the trip.
Jules and the children get to experience living in the castle with servants at their beckon call, as they attempt to warm their grandfather’s heart by brining the joy of Christmas to Castlebury. Jules becomes smitten with Prince Ashton (Sam Heughan) and as such draws the ire of his nasty and selfish girlfriend – Lady Arabella Marchand du Belmont (Charlotte Salt).
As explained before, “A Princess for Christmas” is loaded with the standard cliches, like Jules mumbling “we’re not in Buffalo anymore” as she is taking in the majestic castle, or the at-first grumpiness of the Duke when he first meets them as he whispers to Paisley “are you sure you brought the right family?” Yet despite all that, somehow, some way, it works. “A Princess for Christmas” plays out as a genuine holiday love story infused with laughter and overall merriment.
Katie McGrath attacks the viewer with eyes greener than the waters of a Caribbean cay and is perfectly adorable and charming. If that’s how the women in Buffalo look, sign me up for season tickets to the hapless Bills and the annual catastrophic dumpage of snowfall. And the supporting cast does a plausible job of portraying their roles and keeping you thoroughly entertained.
“A Princess for Christmas” is not going to the cinematic Hall of Fame, but is a perfect holiday treat for all ages.
by – Matt Christopher
