In the movie world, fairy tale movies such as Beauty and the Beast usually stand apart from Christmas movies like Home Alone. However, some movies combine elements from the two genres.
Lionsgate's A Princess for Christmas is a prototype: it features the family drama and holiday stress typical in Christmas movies while mixing in elements from Cinderella (the ball) and Beauty and the Beast (the redemption of a grumpy castle owner).
As with many fairy tale movies, A Princess for Christmas starts with "once upon a time." It tells the story of Jules Daly (Katie McGrath), who once dreamed of traveling to far-off places and loved antiques but grew up to raise her troublemaking teenage nephew Milo (Travis Turner) and seven-year-old niece Maddie (Leilah de Meza). After an unexpected tragedy, though, Jules gets an invitation to stay at Castlebury Hall with the Duke, the kids' grandfather, (Roger Moore) for Christmas.
One of the movie's strengths is the presentation of the inciting incident. Not only does it happen right before the ten-minute mark, but it mixes simplicity and strength; the sight of an airplane ticket brings the scene to Castlebury as Jules, Milo, and Maddie arrive at the castle.
Much of the dialogue throughout the first half of the movie serves as exposition. For instance, the Castlebury Hall servants explained why the Duke sent the invitations; his change of heart while ill is not shown. If the film's focus is on Jules's discovery of family and uncovering of mysteries, though, the exposition-filled dialogue makes sense.
A Princess for Christmas also succeeds in its shots. Most of the scenes are well-lit enough to understand the story just by watching it unfold. Plus, the camera zooms into facial expressions a lot, strengthening my connection with the characters (especially Jules and Prince Ashton) and the story.
Before the ball, Prince Ashton (Sam Heughan), the children's uncle, is in love with Lady Arabella (Charlotte Salt), who serves as the movie's "twist villain." Such competition, alongside Jules's visit to a castle with a grumpy owner, makes A Princess for Christmas, in part, a female gothic tale. The change in circumstances at the ball, where there is a dress reveal, make this a Cinderella tale as well.
If I were to make a critique, it would be that Milo and Maddie's "cultural education" add little to the storyline; they do not play electric guitars or engage in ballet at the ball. Yet, everyone involved in the cultural education ended up dancing to the same song, which could have prepared them for the ball. Besides, the kids' engagement in cultural education was enjoyable to watch; I would've loved to engage in it myself.
A Princess for Christmas is also visually stunning. Castlebury's castle is pure European in its Tudor design and elegant rooms. The dresses, though not always modest, are also pleasant to look at; perhaps they remind me of the dresses in Bridgerton with their thin structure.
A Princess for Christmas, being well-written and full of optimism, is perfect for those seeking to celebrate the holiday season with a fairy tale.
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