This was a really cute movie. If you don't enjoy this one then you shouldn't watch the Hallmark channel. The movies are tropey and this one is no exception. The cast was the best I've seen at Hallmark and I really hope James Brolin films other movies for them. He cinematography was great and the location shoots were spectacular. This goes down as one of my favorites.

Corny humor, weak script, subpar acting, casting all over the place (I mean, pick an accent, please). Just all around bad.

Cute and likable Cindy Busby accounts for almost all of my stars with one star reserved for the male lead. Royal Hearts is an extremely hackneyed plot which presents no surprises, twists, or suspense. It strictly follows the template set forth in innumerable Royal themed romances. Fish out of water heroine and in this case, her Dad, shakes up the royal protocol, is briefly seduced by a royal handsome bad guy, but ends up with the "poor" commoner she had a meet cute with at the beginning after rubbing each other the wrong way throughout most of the movie. Oh. And the kingdom gains its independence thanks to the Americans. I started out looking forward to seeing James Brolin, but he quickly out-wore his welcome with his over the top impression of Sam Elliot. It was kinda funny that the first scene in the movie is Cindy teaching Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, which intentionally or unintentionally hearkens back to her breakthrough role as Elizabeth in Unleashing Mr. Darcy.

Bad enough it follows the insipid Hallmark formula about castles and kings- rich boyfriend is a heel, poor boyfriend is a jewel, down home folk showing taking over the castle and saving the day. Then throw in a good ol' boy cowboy (who wears his battered hat at all times which a real cowboy knows is not correct) who single-handed saves the independence of a whole country and saves his daughters happiness as well. Throw in dogs and horses and ponies and you've seen it all already. I'd give it a one except for the scenery.