A Royal Christmas (2014)

I enjoy watching romantic films, I like going into a story that I know is going to make me happy for a couple of hours and that it the purpose if this movie. The plot is a little cliché and seems right out of a fairy-tale but the acting is surprisingly good and the romance is cute. There are funny moments where Emily's lack of knowledge of etiquette and manners put her in awkward situations. It's a great choice to watch on a rainy Sunday with a friend and coffee, overall a cute movie but easily forgettable. (Also, if you're a Mean Girls' fan and want to see the actress who played Gretchen Wieners as the good girl then this is a good choice)

I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too…I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field." – Elizabeth I, Speech to the Troops at Tilbury. "When I'm dead that boy will ruin himself within 12 months" – George V on his son, who became Edward VIII. Edward abdicated in the first year of his reign to marry divorcée Wallis Simpson. "Nothing that can be said can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments. Grief is the price we pay for love." – Elizabeth II in a message to the USA after 9/11. "I don't care what kind it is, just get me a beer!" – Prince Philip, after being offered wine in Rome in 2000Royalty through the ages have been attributed with coining many quotes; in battle and even in their own court. Here is our list of the top 15 quotes from members of the Royal Family, past and present. "I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too…I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field." – Elizabeth I, Speech to the Troops at Tilbury. "When I'm dead that boy will ruin himself within 12 months" – George V on his son, who became Edward VIII. Edward abdicated in the first year of his reign to marry divorcée Wallis Simpson. "Nothing that can be said can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments. Grief is the price we pay for love." – Elizabeth II in a message to the USA after 9/11. "I don't care what kind it is, just get me a beer!" – Prince Philip, after being offered wine in Rome in 2000."I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face." – The Queen Mother in 1940 after Buckingham Palace had been bombed. "I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown, where no disturbance can be, no disturbance in the world." – Charles I on the scaffold just before his execution in 1649. "It was with some emotion…that I beheld Albert—who is beautiful." – Victoria, on meeting Prince Albert, her future husband at the time. "I may be uninspiring, but I'll be damned if I'm an alien!" – George V after hearing that HG Wells called his court 'alien and uninspiring'. "My father was frightened of his mother; I was frightened of my father, and I am damned well going to see to it that my children are frightened of me." – George V on discipline of his children. "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great Imperial family to which we all belong." – Elizabeth II, 21st birthday speech, committing herself to her then future role as Sovereign of the United Kingdom. "I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations." – Elizabeth II, 1957 Christmas Broadcast to the nation. "All these questions about do you want to be king? It's not a question of wanting to be, it's something I was born into and it's my duty, wanting is not the right word. But those stories about me not wanting to be king are all wrong." – Prince William, 21st birthday interview with the Press Association. "You are a pest, by the very nature of that camera in your hand." – Princess Anne. "I really hope I can make a difference, even in the smallest way. I am looking forward to helping as much as I can." – The Duchess of Cambridge post-engagement interview. "To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasant to them that bear it... ...And though you have had, and may have, many princes more mighty and wise sitting on this seat, yet you never had, nor shall have, any who will be more careful and loving." Both quotes from Elizabeth I's 'Golden Speech', the last speech she gave to Parliament in 1601, 16 months before her death.

A Royal Christmas is a glossy piece of holiday fluff. It's Christmas and who doesn't like a well put together, seasonal movie. Well to start with, some of the critics don't. But we always look for that next classic Christmas movie to go along with Miracle on Thirty-Fourth St., Alistair Sims' or George C. Scott's Scrooge, The Bishop's Wife, Christmas in Connecticut, The Holly and the Ivy and a few more recent ones that come close to being in the classics range like Home Alone or The Santa Clause. Of course, the great ones don't come along every year. As for this one, I really did take to the leading characters and actors in the movie, with longtime movie stalwart Jayne Seymour as the Queen, adding icing and some icy behaviour to this Christmas cake of a movie. She was impressive in her role as the mother from hell combined with her other role as an elegant and charming Queen of a fantasy land that reminds us of Monaco or Liechtenstein. Lacey Chabert, as the fun-loving seamstress/designer, is a girl with talent and personality who charms the Queen's son and the palace staff (if not the guards) and Stephen Hagan as Leopold James, the Prince Charming who certainly filled the bill as the tall, well-tailored prince madly in love with the girl of his dreams. Katharine Flynn as the wannabe bride, the Duchess of Warren, was the only weak link in an otherwise fine cast. The young couple in love are polar opposites in background and personality but a perfect example of two young people in love, in a fairy tale world of course. The music, the sets, and the upstairs-downstairs characters and everything about the movie were smartly arranged. The supporting cast was great, from Simon Dutton as the butler (watch for a surprise!) to the family of the commoner in love with her prince. Of course, it was all in the Hallmark tradition of giving us something Christmassy to wallow in for the holidays. See it and just let yourself enjoy the treat.

Other than the cool castle, simply plug new characters into the formulaic Hallmark schmaltzy script and you will know 5 minutes into the story how it will end. Hallmark REALLY needs some new writers and directors! Same loud relentless non-stop music overpowering the insipid dialog.Same old plot: Prince meets commoner, falls in love. Prince takes commoner home to meet royal Mom. Royal Mom is tyrant, wants royal son to marry royal ex-girlfriend. Royal Mom plots against commoner who is busy making friends below stairs because she is so perky and friendly. Commoner sacrifices her happiness "for the good of the kingdom". Royal Mom sees the light, does a rapid 180, and urges Prince to follow his heart. No point in going on, you know what happens from here.Don't waste your time. There are way better things in life than this drivel.