The Prince and Me (From Barry And District News)

The Prince and Me

SET in Denmark, the land of the fairytale king Hans Christian Anderson, and America, The Prince And Me is another Cinderella variation.

The dream of the paparazzi, spoilt, and very handsome Edvard Valdemar Dangaard (Luke Mably) is the crown prince of Denmark. He's a playboy and a considerable worry to his parents King Haraald (James Fox) and Queen Rosalind (Miranda Richardson).

Although aware of his future responsibilities, he is determined to enjoy himself.

Edvard sees a video called Girls Gone Wild set at a Wisconsin college. He uses this unlikely excuse to broaden his education and goes incognito with his valet Soren (Ben Miller) to Wisconsin University, enrolling as a foreign exchange student called Eddie.

This is where he meets Paige (Julia Stiles) and makes a crass pass at her, only to be rebuffed with a squirt of soda water in the face.

When Eddie and Paige find themselves in the same chemistry class as partners, they gradually warm to each other. She helps him with his chemistry and he with her Shakespeare. While waxing lyrical on Hamlet he gives a little away about his own life: "The prince was young and scared and didn't feel ready for the choices he had to make". Soon he gets to taste the farming life, while she stays in a castle but as the relationship blossoms they have to decide where their responsibilities really lie.

However though 15 minutes too long, as role models go Paige is leaps and bounds ahead of Britney and J-Lo and the film has loads of charm.

7/10