Prince Charming

The synopsis in the TV Guide made it clear that this would be a variant of "You've got mail." Samantha and Jack are new neighbors in an apartment building and they quickly begin to annoy each other (without seeing each other). By the time they first set eyes on each other, they are enemies and you are wondering how they can possibly reverse this relationship when they discover that they are online soul-mates. It's not a new story, but it was an entertaining diversion on a lazy afternoon. Tia Carrere is fine as Samantha and David Charvet as Jack shows us that he is capable of more than looking good on the beach.

MEET PRINCE CHARMING is a slight romantic comedy, a variation on YOU'VE GOT MAIL that features two charmers (Carrere and Charvet) as fellow apartment dwellers who can't stand living next to each other but get along just fine as e-mail pals. It is only a matter of time before they finally really meet. The layup to their eventual meeting is sexy and intriguing. After they meet, the film quickly falls apart. I hate to say it, but Carrere is not getting any younger, and this film is a long way from WAYNE'S WORLD. Her shenanigans would look old on a woman 10 years her junior. Once they are in each other's arms, the film loses its way and sputers to a halt. Watch the first half and then turn it off. You will think you just saw a winner. Might have been better as a half-hour novelty.

On her 29th birthday, magazine editor Samantha is living in an apartment in the Tribeca section of Manhattan. Her friend and co-worker Jen thinks she needs a man, and as one step in the process of finding someone for Samantha, she throws a party for her. The possible choices include Tony The Tiger (who is not grrreat) and Samantha's ex Brian, who wants to get back together. Brian sings her a song because he thinks he has the talent to make music a career. He is wrong.

Jonathan, whose nickname is Jack, lives next door and is disturbed by the party. He was a white-collar worker who now waits tables, with Gino, where his friends still eat. While they talk about their big deals, Jack's friends seem to think he is less of a person. Jack's dream is to start a newspaper called The Tribeca Times, but he is struggling to find advertisers and stories to attract readers. His sister Hilary, who is married with a child, thinks Jack needs a woman.

Jack decides to join a dating service and do a story about it. Samantha just happens to join the same service. They both meet someone ideal through email. Meanwhile, they hate each other--for example, Samantha's big dog messes up Jack's New York Times, they can't stand each other's music (I don't like any of the music either of them do, by the way). The email friends enjoy communicating about their lives, and especially about the jerk living next door.

Until they decide to meet, the two email friends endure a series of loser dates.

The ending is quite entertaining, resulting from coincidences and miscommunication.

This movie is Yahoo's answer to "You've Got Mail", which in my opinion was a superior movie. While I thought Meg Ryan was adorable in her movie, I couldn't stand Samantha and didn't care about seeing her happy. I thought I would like Jack, but he was no Tom Hanks. Both characters ended up being somewhat more pleasant as the movie progressed.

What I really liked were the quirky characters. Four of the loser dates were among the best of these: For Samantha, a magician (who was quite good), and Harry, who brought his therapist. For Jack, there was the anti-Semitic vegetarian who could only speak one word at a time, and the woman in the limo who thought she was supposed to pay. Other standout characters: the fortune-teller Jack visited, the woman at the dating service who worked with Samantha, and the man at the dating service who worked with Jack (I do know his name was George).

I'm not saying this was a bad movie. I don't recall any specific weaknesses. I just know that except for the ending, I wasn't that happy.

"Meet Prince Charming" is a low cal romantic comedy which tells of a guy and gal NYC apartment dwelling next door neighbors who get on each other's nerves and, well, you can guess the rest. No biggie, but a cute and fun romp which avoids the usual romantic comedy pitfalls, "MPC" doesn't get too sappy or corny or hip, doesn't take itself too seriously, doesn't try too hard, and is fresh and fun. Hey, who could ask for more than that?

Though the plot of the movie itself is not terribly original, 'Meet Prince Charming,' to me, has a lovely charm of its own. The fact that its actors aren't high-profile does indeed add a feeling of reality. I find that refreshing, and the fact that it's not a Meg Ryan film provides a sigh of relief. I do like Meg Ryan, but she can be over-the-top and has historically played such consistently high-strung characters that actors of that sort tire me out at times.

On the plot issue, this is truly a variation on a theme. Look at the title; it's a dead giveaway. My impression is that it wasn't intended to be more than it is. And in using the term variation I think of it as the word is used in music (classical, or if you're into rock, think of the variations between the studio release of a song and the live version . . . ). Another example would be the many variations of the Cinderella story, from the Disney animated version, to the lovely classic 1960s television version, to the far different 'Ever After,' where the 'Cinderella' character is a strong woman, indeed a 'tough chick.' Another way to look at it is to compare it to television. It's like taking a break from the X-commercialization of the CSI empire and all the similar shows. I enjoy them sometimes, but they're glitzy/glamorous, 'fast & furious,' and are intent on producing the highest drama they can put into their alloted time. They can be wearying! If you've ever seen the lower-key but more realistic-feeling 'da Vinci's Inquest,' a Canadian production, you'll be aware of the difference. I like it far better, for viewing on a regular basis.

My point is that though the movie is low-key and obviously wasn't a big commercial-success-type film, it has a gentle and thoughtful sweetness that, for this viewer, was worth watching. And yes, it is definitely a chick flick.