The Princess Diaries (2001) is a cute, entertaining family oriented film that is perfect if you're looking for feel good Disney fare. They got many things right with this movie, a lot more was right then was wrong. The main thing that was just perfect was the casting. Anne Hathaway did a great job with her breakthrough starring role. She holds her own and has enough acting ability to make us care about her and her life. This includes her relationships, both romantic and family. And of course Julie Andrews is just perfect as the grandmother and Queen. She is a veteran actress that we all know from the sound of music and Mary Poppins, and she really proves she's still got what it takes. Mandy Moore is good as the high school b***h, and Heather Matarazzo is funny and delightful as ever in the best friend role. The writing is good, it brings out the movies heart and highlights the chemistry between the characters. It's great for a family viewing.... but I think that just about anyone can enjoy this film. 8/10 for The Princess Diaries.

This is of course the film that brought a young Anne Hathaway to our attention, featuring her as an average teenager realising that she's actually the Princess of a far off land. And Julie Andrews is your Gran! This is a fun film. It's got a good heart and will appeal to young girls and teens everywhere. A big part of that success is down to it being well directed by the much missed Garry Marshall and the fact that it features winning performances from Hathaway and Andrews.I don't think it needed the sequel that followed, but this is an hour and a bit of entertaining fairy-tale fun.

The Princess Diaries (2001): Dir: Garry Marshall / Cast: Anna Hathaway, Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo, Larry Miller, Heather Matarazzo: Family film about maturity and responsibility as Anne Hathaway learns that she is the heir to the thrown of Genovia when her grandmother pays a visit. She is given a makeover and, TA-DA! She really is beautiful! Puh-lease! As if we couldn't tell that Hathaway is beautiful. We know where it is heading and it never gets more entertaining than frying it under a magnifying glass in the hot sun. Director Garry Marshall can create humour and has done better and funnier films. With this film he seems to present a juvenile version of his acclaim Pretty Woman. This theme has been recycled to death through countless films, many of which are as bad as this one. Julie Andrews and Hathaway are at the mercy of recycled material and both do well with what amounts to absolutely nothing. In supporting roles are Hector Elizondo is standard as the limo driver who has that hint of wisdom. Larry Miller can be funny but here he plays a makeup consultant and totally over the top. Heather Matarazzo plays Hathaway's neglected friend. Her role is more or less to be the dopey irritating friend. More recycled bull about taking an already hot young woman and prostituting them with a lame makeover. It is nothing to include in any diary, royalty or not. Score: 3 / 10

Many people don't like "Fluff" movies like this. I can tell, because I get negative reviews whenever I write good things about these types of movies. But I think secretly, even some macho men likes these movies. I personally don't care because if it's a good movie, then it's a good movie whatever the genre is. If there's one word to describe this movie, it's Ann Hathaway. All the movie's goodness owes to her. She's convincing as a princess, and she really is an interesting character in this movie. My eyes were pretty much glued to her all through the movie. Much like Julie Andrews attracted attention when she was younger in "The Sound of Music", she carries the movie with her presence. Julie Andrews by the way also appears in a supporting role in this film.The movie definitely made Ann Hathaway a star. She's probably deserving, because she still has nice presence in a more recent movies like the Dark Knight Rising.In any case, this is a good movie, and is definitely worth the watch.