Μύ With early roles in superior Shakespeare-inspired fare like Ten Things I Hate About You and O, Julia Stiles gave us a glimmer of hope amid a glut of dunderheaded teen comedies. With "sickly-sweet fantasy" The Prince & Me however she reneged on that promise and was duly chastised by the critics. It also faltered at the box office, but Stiles quickly got back on track with blockbusting thriller The Bourne Supremacy, which was released just a few months later.
Full Colour Prince
Billed rather ostentatiously as 'documentaries', this DVD actually boasts three featurettes with the longest running at just under 15 minutes. The Lawnmower Race is the most intriguing of these only because it offers a window into a cult sport, which, we're reliably informed, began on one fateful night in England 25 years ago after pub closing time. Luke Mably (who plays The Prince) calls it "the poor man's NASCAR" among lots of manly talk about cams, rotors and flywheels.
The Look Of The Prince & Me is a much more girly affair that rifles through the stars' wardrobes and casts a discerning eye over the baroque design of palaces from Prague to Denmark. However, according to director Martha Coolidge, the ornate detail of the cities' architecture took second place to the fact that, "It's cheaper to shoot in Eastern Europe than Western Europe." We can only assume Disney's Magic Kingdom was being refurbished at the time...
Offering a standard breakdown of the plot and its underlying themes is Inside The Fairytale. Screenwriter Katherine Fugate tantalises with a brief account of her research that included a trip to London and Monaco (all-expenses paid, darling) to interview the ex-girlfriends of royal princes. Unfortunately said sovereigns go unnamed. Instead of juicy gossip we're treated to hollow gems of wisdom like Stiles' assertion that, "Sometimes you need a person to help you find your true self." Pass the popcorn bucket!
A Royal Pardon
Unfortunately there's more Oprah-style sermonising in the director's commentary. Coolidge ominously begins by stating, "This is not just an ordinary chick flick but a contemporary interpretation of a fairytale", and then goes on to outline her intentions of "empowering young women". Between all this disingenuous guff there are a few technical notes on location logistics, production design etc, but it's hardly a masterclass in filmmaking.
Finally ten minutes of deleted and extended scenes are as fluffy as royal ermine pulled fresh from the tumble dryer. Romantic clichΓ©s include gazing from afar, a picnic by the river, and tearing through country lanes in a sporty red car while laughing with wild abandon. Sadly the blooper is just as bland. Ultimately, it turns out the featurettes offer the only interest in an otherwise lacklustre package. It's hardly fit for a king, but little girls and lawnmower enthusiasts will love it!
EXTRA FEATURES
