One of the best films i have seen

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

"The Princess Diaries" is an American movie from 15 years ago that runs for almost 2 hours. It was the big screen breakthrough for Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway. And even if her character is the undisputed lead here, they still chose Julie Andrews (whose character really anybody could have played) as the first credit. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me, even if Hathaway was pretty much a nobody back then still. But lets talk a bit more about the contents of the film. It is a nice story from ugly duckling becoming a beautiful swan and even a princess later on. Of course, it was pretty difficult to make a stunning actress like Hathaway look bad in the first third of the movie. The first genre description here on IMDb is comedy and I think there are some funny moments, but overall I would really see it more as a family film, maybe even a romance movie. Sadly,t he romance part is as uncreative as predictable.Some good moments in terms of Hathaway's performance and in terms of the script also make this one work. Nonetheless I must say that the entire royalty story was not really necessary here. It did not add too much for me. Instead, I would have preferred maybe a film that would have run for 90 minutes only and been more of a high school comedy. The movie actually attempts too much and sometimes it seems a touch of try-hard in achieving genuinely funny comedy. And there are many occasions when they do not succeed. I would say Hathaway is almost too good of an actress (also back then already when she wasn't even 20) for the material here. This is a decent film, but not one that could not have been better on more than a handful occasions. A sequel was really not too justified. Finally, before I finish the review, I don't want to forget to mention Mandy Moore. I am a great fan of her and it is always nice to see her, especially her "Stupid Cupid" performance. This one may have been among the main reasons why she got cast in "A Walk to Remember", one of my favorite films of all time and there she plays a completely different character to the vain spoiled school girl here. As a whole, I recommend "The Princess Diaries", mostly for Anne Hathaway's star-making turn.

Anne Hathaway makes a cute San Francisco teen age preppie. The Zeitgeist demands that she dress and act like an iconoclast. She and her friends are rowdy, rude, unkempt. Her hair looks like it was attacked by a mad dog.Then, it's discovered that she is heir to the throne of Genovia or Ruritania or Arcadia or someplace. She is visited by the queen, Julie Andrews, a warm personality who has brought innumerable consultants and factotums who are intent on turning Hathaway into the Princess she will become.The director, Garry Marshall, does a good job. He's an Italian-American and must have gotten a kick out of Larry Williams as an uncredited hair dresser and make up artist named Prego Putanesco. As he trims her up, he remarks, "I love your eyebrows. We'll call them Frieda and Kahlo." Now, if this were a dumb movie made only for young girls barely into their growth spurt, would a joke like that have been included? (Hint: No.) I kind of enjoyed it. Nice shots of San Francisco in winter's rain.The fairy-tale story is pretty damned hoary. (I think that's called iambic dimeter. The voices tell me to do it.) Yet the setting, the gags, and the animated performance of Anne Hathaway who has the sparkling grin of a toothpaste commercial, bring it all over the goal line.

Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is a dorky invisible teen who everybody steps on. She lives with her mother (Caroline Goodall) in an old fire station in San Francisco. Her only friend is Lilly Moscovitz (Heather Matarazzo). Her dead father's mother Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews) of Genovia has come to town to tell her that she's the only heir for the throne. She is shocked since her mother never told her any of this and she doesn't want to rule. Joe (Héctor Elizondo) is her new driver. She is given princess lessons by her grandmother. She is picked on by mean girl Lana Thomas (Mandy Moore) and her friends, but she is infatuated with Lana's jock boyfriend Josh Bryant. Meanwhile Michael Moscovitz is in love with Mia.There are many things wrong with this movie. It's cheesy. It has a few too many stupidity. The mother needs to be played by somebody more compelling. The one thing that this movie has is the lovely Anne Hathaway. She is terrific as a dork. She actually makes the cliché ugly duckling work. She does great pratfalls even when the movie turns into a slapstick affair. And then it has the regal Julie Andrews who can really class things up when she wants to.

This royal film's got it all: a princess, a queen, a classic Cinderella story, a ball, "cute boys", a quirky BFF... you name it, you got it! I'd say pretty much any female will find this movie a pleasure to watch, as it fulfills the childhood fantasy we've all craved in a humorous and tasteful way, and in the end leaves you satisfied and feeling good.The characters are all endearing and special in their own ways, from Mia's disgruntled neighbor, to the classic "mean girl", to her typical "backstreet boy" crush. I admit that sometimes it does become a little trite and cliché at times, what with the overdone stereotypes, but it keeps the viewer intrigued so it's not at all negative. It might even make you chuckle believe it or not! However this movie, like many other movies, is not for everyone; rather, this movie is better suited for tweens and teens. And when I say that, I am in NO WAY belittling it or putting it down, because to me 'Princess Diaries' is and always will be an enjoyable, funny, and at times childish film. (Not gonna lie--most guys will probably find no joy in watching it, but that fact does not a bad movie make.) I've seen this movie numerous times, and it seems I can never get tired of it. Cheesy? Yes, but in this case, the cheese works.