A Royal in Paradise

Every once in a while, a film comes along that looks like it will be a formulaic love story. One watches it for the soothing rewards of knowing the girl will get the guy, the guy wilt get the girl, and it will all end happily..And then, once in a while, this formula comes along with some really appealing leads, an intelligent story, and a bit more to offer than the conventional script. This movie was one of those.

It was filmed in a beautiful setting, using ample time to show the colorful, charming tropical location. There were underwater scenes, stunning fish and sea life shown, and in all, it was a visually gratifying movie.

The love story was mature, each of the leading characters had his and her own issues to deal with . Of course, the prince needed to take the throne. And, of course, he was expected to marry someone of royal lineage. Surely, the young woman author had a deadline and writer's block, and needed to find a new location to inspire her creative work. But there was more to this formula than one would expect. Serious life issues were shared and discussed by the young couple. Failures and disappointments were talked about. One knows in watching a movie of this sort that the ending will be a happy one. Everything will turn out alright. But this film explored the roadblocks and impediments along the way in a more mature and realistic way.

If one can make a few comments about some shortcomings, here they are. While the female lead wore some stunniing clothes, it seemed gratuitous that there was so much cleavage shown. It was almost as if everything she wore was cut too low and her cleavage was far too exposed. The same is true for her best friend, roommate. There was barely one scene that did not have that very distracting and unnecessary aspect to it. What was the purpose of this sort of exposure? It distracted from the story, from the sensitive relationship and how it was resolved. There was an almost Playboy centerfold aspect to the need to show so much cleavage. Was there a reason behind this? It's hard to imagine what that reason would be. Other than that one distraction, this is a mature, lovely story.

Two Australians - Rhiannon Fish as Olivia and Mitchell Bourke as Alexander - star in a film shot in Queensland, Australia for GAC Family.

A Royal in Paradise tells the story of Olivia, a best-selling writer who goes through a breakup whilst struggling for inspiration for her next novel. When Olivia's friend suggests they take the trip Olivia had originally planned to take with her boyfriend, she meets Alexander of Toravia (yet another country where they sound English!), who is on the island for a fundraising benefit, and to get away from the constraints of royal life. If you've seen one of these, you've seen them all...and you wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that sparks fly between the two, and that's where complications set in. All with a tropical backdrop, and all very family-friendly. (Except, if you happen to pay very close attention to the stock footage scenes of people in the pool, as I apparently did. Some of them are wearing thong bikinis! And Olivia does show off a fairly impressive bit of cleavage on a few occasions.)

Fish and Bourke have good chemistry, and their scenes together are all very nice. A predictable plot doesn't mean this wasn't an enjoyable film. What makes it enjoyable is their chemistry.

I just found the movie randomly on youtube and started watching it without knowing its plot and everything. At the end, I really liked it and was excited for its 2nd part.

The hero is so handsome, totally looked like a Prince Charming that we know from fairytales. The story was good, though little dramatic. Also the ending was expected too, but still I enjoyed the overall flow of the story.

The locations selected for shootingg were beautiful, and the actors acted well too; looked very natural and not just acting.

Kinda reminded me how difficult life is for the royals, though we commoners might think they have the best life. With all those rules, expectations, no privacy etc. - life isn't like a cake for them either.

I was a little skeptical at first, but the movie was really good. It was predictable, but funny and entertaining. Rhiannon Fish did a wonderful job in the movie. She was sad, funny, and her face expressions were wonderful. Probably the best thing I've seen her in. She's quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses.

Naomi Sequeira was beautiful and charming as ever. Mitchell Bourke was great as the prince. The rest of the cast did a great job.

The scenery was incredible. I've been to this part of Australia and they did it proud in the movie.

Overall fun, wholesome, great views and would see it again.

This is not a Hallmark movie but it closely follows the typical Hallmark story arc. Two single people meet and are attracted to each other, something comes between them, later they overcome it and during the last minute they have their first kiss.

Cute and authentic Rhiannon Fish (about 30) plays romance novelist Olivia. Based in Manhattan, she is riding the wave of popularity of her latest book but seems stuck, full-on writer's block. She buys tickets for her and her fiance' to travel to a tropical island but at the same time he has started to break up with her. So her good friends convinces her the two of them should go together instead, Olivia can use the trip as an inspiration for her writing.

At the same time Alexander, a prince from a small (fictitious) country, is reading her novel. They meet accidentally, then later they both end up at the same tropical island, she on vacation and he on a charity trip to help raise money for conservation. They meet again, they hit it off, but Alexander's mother, the Queen, has other plans and tries to sabotage the relationship.

The movie plays better than a brief description can explain, it is interesting and entertaining all the way through. A good effort for this type of movie, a fluff piece with beautiful people and great scenery.

My wife and I watched it on FreeVee, streaming on Prime.