Release Date:  August 11, 2004
Rating:  G
Genre:  Romance/Comedy/Family
Run Time: 1 hr. 55 min.
Director:  Garry Marshall
Actors: Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo, Chris Pine, John Rhys-Davies, Heather Matazarro, Callum Blue

Please, please, can I be a princess, too?  Now dear, it’s not nice to covet. But oh, what lovely jewelry!  And those clothes! And just look at all those antiques in that beautiful European castle. Well … I suppose it might be nice to be just a little bit royal.  Especially since they’re all so … American.

Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is grown up now, having graduated from college with a degree in international affairs and political science. She is ready to assume the throne of Genovia, as soon as her grandmother, the beloved Queen Clarisse (Julie Andrews) steps down. While Clarisse grooms Mia to be queen, a member of parliament (John Rhys-Davies) raises a startling point of law: for a princess to ascend the throne, she must be married.  His nephew, Lord Nicholas (Chris Pine), must therefore become king instead.  Parliament gives Mia one month to marry, and the race is on.  Unfortunately, however, she’s very attracted indeed to the scheming Nicholas.

Based on the bestselling books by author Meg Cabot, the first “Princess Diaries” film was widely successful, so a sequel was not a surprise. Fortunately, director Garry Marshall opted to maintain the G rating of the film by excluding profanities, obscenities, nudity and sexuality (save two references to homosexuality – can’t leave those out).  In one heart-wrenching scene, Mia blesses a group of orphans then gives them her vacation castle in which to live. I cannot help but remember the words of James, who defined “pure and faultless” religion as “looking after orphans and widows in their distress, and keeping oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27).  This film embodies just that.

Julie Andrews does a wonderful job, and we even get to see her sing – something she hasn’t done in years. Unfortunately, her lovely song is ruined by an annoying promotion of Disney’s latest pop-star, Raven, who joins in for a silly duet (note:  there are several of these, including singing maids-in-waiting). Hathaway does a decent job with her role, but too bad it didn’t occur to scriptwriter Gina Wendkos that five years later means five years wiser and five years more poised. The still-bumbling Mia seems like she’s still in high school – or maybe junior high, given the film’s ludicrous “bridal slumber party” complete with guests who are potty-training and getting their braces.