O Príncipe do Natal

Maybe it's just because I'm a fan of Rose McIver, but I legitimately enjoyed A Christmas Prince. Despite all of its cliched moments and completely predictable storyline, I found myself engaged in the story. In fact, even though I fell asleep while watching it, I finished it the next morning because I wanted to. What is happening to me? Do I like Hallmark-esque holiday movies now?

Saw 'A Christmas Prince' with my flatmate on Netflix already in the Christmas spirit. After watching, my overall thoughts were that while 'A Christmas Prince' was watchable it left me torn as to what to make of it.

On one view we have a few performances that make the grade. The best performance as the most well-rounded character by far (the only one to get development beyond cliché) comes from Honor Kneafsey, Emily starts off as a brat initially but grows as the character that one roots for the most. Rose McIver and Ben Lamb also give charming performances and have an easy going romantic chemistry. Alice Krige brings understated dignity to the queen.

'A Christmas Prince' looks pretty good. The scenery is beautifully picturesque and has a really festive feel and the castle interiors and exteriors are enough to make one want to stay there. The photography is suitably slick. The music puts one into the festive mood and gives off a cosy nostalgia. Spotting the famous Christmas songs and carols is a delight and there is the serious temptation to sing along.

There is some charm and genuine sweetness here while Amber and Emily's chemistry is very heartfelt. Didn't find myself bored either.

However, the rest of the cast don't make much of an impression, most are bland. Then there is Theo Devaney and Emma Louise Saunders who play their stock villain characters with such broad hamminess that they make over-the-top villain characters in Christmas pantomimes more subtle in comparison.

It is hard to deny too that 'A Christmas Prince', even for trying to take it for what it is, is riddled with clichés, non-stop predictability and contrivance. One has to suspend disbelief at how long it takes for the lie to be exposed, Amber constantly narrowly escaping being caught and how things are resolved far too quickly and easily.

The script throughout is peppered with cheese (especially Simon and Sophia) and mawkish schmaltz, and of the characters although the leads are reasonably likable the only one to have any development is Emily. Simon and Sophia are plot-device material there for the sake of it and the way they're written and their antics jar tonally.

Concluding, very torn on what to think. Part of me can't be too hard on it, but the faults are pretty glaring also. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Decent watch, probably won't watch again, but can recommend.

While it isn't anything truly special, it's a decent version of a "journalist in disguise falls in love" trope. Though the object of affection being a prince allows for resources that almost anyone wouldn't turn down.

There certainly is a lot of production put into the movie to maintain the grand perception of royals, but the best part of the movie is the heart felt Christmas vibe of it.

Unfortunately, this is mostly achieved through the secondary characters and them influencing the royal family.

First of all, the acting in this film isn't that bad. You can easily tell that everybody is trying their hardest to portray these characters. Some of them came across as real-life people while others just felt like charctercharacterss in a movie. This could mainly be pointed to the writing in this film. Some of the lines in this film were just hilariously bad and cringy and I would give examples but I already forgot them. But I do have to say the scenery was stunning and the production on this was well done. Each set and costume looked perfect for each scene. The costumes fit each character and showed a bit more into their personality. For example, Richard's outifts made him look like royalty but at the same time, a normal guy because that's what he wants to be. This film had lots of pacing issues. From beginning to end it didn't feel like that was the speed it should be going at. The beginning felt slow while the ending felt to fast. The creators of the film might have thought they had a longer film and then realized they only had a one hour and thirty-two-minute film so they had to quickly resolve the film. The last thing I want to talk about is the relationship in this film. It's not believable or relatable. I know it shouldn't be relatable seeing how it is about a journalist falling in love with a prince but the writers still should make it so some people can relate to at least one of them. And it isn't believable because it seems too rushed. Throughout the entire film, they are hardly around each other and then all of a sudden he just loves her. There is no explanation why just little subtle hints. In the end, A Christmas Prince is perfect for people who like RomComs but for others not so much.

This movie is like a pretty Christmas package that you unwrap only to find another layer of packaging and so forth to the center with no actual present ever, but in a good way, because if you actually get to the content of a Christmas present you would find out if anybody actually knows and cares enough to give you a meaningful gift and you never wanted that, you just wanted the cozy feeling of seeing a tree with gifts under it and then the lovely idea that we're all about to be nice to each other for once. This movie is that feeling. You should watch it. I did.