Stars: Danica McKellar, Rupert Penry-Jones, Ellie Botterill
Yes, I know, Christmas is over, and my review is a month late. Frankly, I don't have the Hallmark Channel, but I discovered a link to the movie on the Facebook fan page for Rupert Penry-Jones. I thought I would check it out.
Sigh. It's okay, but I felt like it was a rehashed plot from a few movies, and very much like A Princess for Christmas from 2011. Not much originality, frankly, which I found disappointing, even though this is supposed to be, "A Hallmark Channel Original Movie."
Here are the similarities:
- Meet desperate, poor young woman who cannot pay her bills. Instead of being an aunt of two that she supports, she's the sister of two living together with money problems.
- Opportunity arrives to work as a governess for a King of some fictional kingdom. He's a widower with an unruly daughter. She takes the job because she's been fired and needs the money.
- Gets spirited off to kingdom and castle, finding herself out of her element. Girl from Brooklyn attempts to acclimate to the King's household. The same friendly butler, the same grumpy housekeeper.
- King is already promised to some snooty aristocratic woman that he's really not that into but is supposed to marry.
- Heroine brings a freshness to the stuffy realm, winning over the staff, the daughter, and eventually the King.
- Snooty aristocratic girlfriend attempts to discredit her competition.
- Heroine invited to attend the Christmas ball, has no dress, and is given one by a cook on the staff.
- Has romantic dance with the King.
- After she leaves to return home, the King runs after her pledging his love after one week and they live happily ever after.
Somebody give me originality! I gave it three just because of the joy of watching Rupert Penry-Jones on screen. He was a doll in a dull remake of a conglomeration of other stories rolled into a new one.
You can watch it for free, at least as of the date of this posting, on DailyMotion:
PART 1: Crown for Christmas
PART 2: Crown for Christmas
Oh, and belated Merry Christmas to you all!
