Crown Prince of Christmas

I watch a lot of Christmas movies and with four networks now cranking them out full time, I had to pick and choose more. Now I pick films that vary from the traditional formula or have stars that I really enjoy.

This one got my attention because it had a slight twist on an old theme and both leads were engaging. However, it felt very low budget, like super low. Odd camera angles, shots and close-ups, awkward pauses, and some not great acting and dialogue.

However, the biggest disservice to the script was the obviously low budget they had to produce it. Part of the premise was that the hotel was supposed to be a luxury hotel lavishly decked out for Christmas! In fact, that was the reason it was chosen for the "Gala". However, the bulk of the decoration was tinsel garland and strings of lights. And the same tinsel showed up everywhere, on every set (the red and silver). I even think I saw one small, unfluffed wreath with two present bows stuck to it being hung on a wall!

Another big plot element was the "Royal Gala" which felt more like a daytime junior high assembly. Minimal set decoration, tiny crowd, no lighting or orchestra. The headline entertainment was an acapella version of Silent Night?!? Cindy is a decent singer, but certainly not the prodigy that built up the entire movie. Heck, even the most accomplished singer wouldn't drive the crowd into that frenzy in that scenario. And that single song appeared to be the entire content of the gala. So odd.

I could overlook a lot of plot absurdities and predictability when it is visually beautiful and filled with Christmas imagery and magic. This unfortunately lacked and even the charming stars couldn't save it.

I have to remember that one of the goals of the new GAC network is to be family friendly. I'm guessing that means movies like this one, with an obvious nod to Cinderella, are aimed to include children in the audience.

I'm used to Christmas rom/coms aimed at adults. I expect a little more subtlety in the acting. In this movie it seemed that many actors were delivering their lines with emphasis and the result often didn't seem natural, perhaps even melodramatic. That is especially the case with Cindy Busby. Add on her smile which can look pasted on and it seems even less natural. Jilon VanOver was a little better, but only slightly. In addition, characters' reactions to actions or preceding lines seemed out of place and transitions were rough.

The script often made no sense or was confusing. I will say as a definite positive that the story had some interesting twists from the beginning. I am very unhappy with a reviewer who included an untagged spoiler that bore directly on one of those twists. I think I probably would have suspected, but I will never know and the twist was revealed about the halfway point. The tone of the story was upbeat and there was almost no tension other than Madison's nerves and that seemed overplayed not to mention inconsistent.

I agree that the sets gave a definite low budget feel. The "Gala" had something like only 30-40 people and a tiny stage. The makeup was often bad, especially for Cindy Busby.

I find it interesting that all the written reviews as of this writing are lower than the average overall rating, including my own. Many of those reviews are critical of Busby's singing. I found her singing to be mostly pleasant, but lacking the polish of a regular singing performer. I would leave it at that were it not for the fact that her final note of her final song was off key.

We've seen this movie done over and over. It's getting old. The Prince comes to work in America and goes incognito. No one knows he is a Prince until after a year of him being there. Lack of chemistry between the 2 leads. Madison's family is so cringy. Her dad overacts and the 2 sisters act childish and the mom had the most annoying voice. Madison sings one song at the gala. It just so stupid. Normally I like Cindy but not in this roll. I feel like GAC and Hallmark need some new writers with new ideas. Typically I don't watch anything Royal related but I taped this one because I like Cindy. Take it or leave it.

This is hands down one of the worst GAF movies I've seen yet. A ridiculous story line about yet another "prince in hiding". He's a prince, pretending to not be a prince, pretending to be a prince. Yep, that bad.

Cindy Busby cannot sing. Please stop casting her as someone with a fabulous voice. I muted the tv every time she sang. If this isn't her real voice, stop using the singer. She's not much of an actress either, I've seen her in many films, and she is always the same character. The lead actor was ok, nice looking, and did the best he could with the dreadful dialog.

The prince's parents were awful, fake accents, horrible wig on the mother, not believable at all, not to mention the actress playing the Queen isn't much older than the Prince. She must have had him when she was 10.

The makeup is terrible and off putting. Applied so thick and cakey, especially on the men. The scenes very fake. The only redeeming thing was the pretty baked goods we got to see a little of.

This movie is a disappointment for me. I've watched Cindy Busby in other Hallmark movies and she was great and the other day I watched this movie, "A Crown Prince of Christmas" from Great American Family and I couldn't help but cringe. OMG! It was really bad. First, they could have used a much better venue for a "$3K Royal Gala" in a ballroom fit for a king. Instead, they used a restaurant table with a tiny stage where Madison (Cindy Busby) sang "Silent Night". She was pitchy, off-key and her make up was terrible. The character Sebastian wasn't good either. I don't recommend this movie. Oh sooooo bad.