Red, White & Royal Blue (2023) User Reviews (353)

Would've been great as a series

[tinarey-28699 · 7/10 · 12 August 2023]

I said the same thing when I watched the trailer and I was right. The book had so much details that simply cannot be captured in a 2-hour movie. While, the movie does its best to capture important moments, many crucial moments were still lost to the winds. It's a good and entertaining movie but maybe I would've enjoyed it more if I hadn't read the book.

I missed the characters who were crucial to the story and to what makes Alex Alex. The characters they kept were watered down to the point of blandness and the story felt too fast-paced and rushed.

The chemistry between the leads though takes the cake and although their story could have been more expounded, it was really well done and for that I'm glad.

Heartwarming cheesiness.

[B3ansOnToast · 8/10 · 12 August 2023]

Gotta say it, the cast is so on point with Nicholas Galitzine being so British and with Taylor Zakhar Perez being that sassy-everyones-darling type. Their characters fit together very well and I absolutely loved their more comedic moments, you know, them trying to hide their crush on eachother which led to love and their not so pocker faces. Also loved the drama but it's a happy film so everything works out in the end.

Having not read the book, any discrepancies in the portrayal of details didn't impact my enjoyment. This film was a delightful blend of humor, heartwarming cheesiness, and wholesomeness.

A two-hour movie that should've been a 4-episode mini-series

[eriebeachboy · 6/10 · 12 August 2023]

Cramming the content of a novel into a two-hour movie means you're going to see characters eliminated and scenes combined, that's just a given. To say "the book was better" is a well-worn cliche, so I won't use it here, but having read the book first, I was saddled with expectations that were never met.

For a light, two-hour "Hallmark movie the week" style flick? Red, White & Royal Blue was fine. But the cost was having to eliminate most of the emotion, peril and building up to the big scenes that the book had. The pacing felt rushed, and it seemed like the director was trying to get to from one big moment from the book to the next, as quickly as possible before they ran out of time.

Casting-wise, the actors all pretty much looked exactly like how they were meticulously described in the book-with one glaring exception. In the book, Alex was much younger. Closer to 21. He was also noticeably shorter than Henry too, at around 5' 7" or 5' 8" (which is why his "He doesn't look 6' 2"!" line in the film seems to come out of nowhere). Nicholas Galitzine was a decade to old and far too tall for the part. Instead of seeing a young college student fall for a tall, handsome prince? We spent two hours watching two grown Abercrombie & Fitch models trying to "out hot" each other.

Overall the film was cute and worked fine, but it lacked most of the emotion and actual peril the book rewarded us with-and what a 3 to 5-episode mini-series could've delivered.

A TRULY LOVELY EXPERIENCE !!!!

[ar_brierley · 10/10 · 27 August 2023]

This movie was a HUGE shock to me, it was so very beautiful and it made me cry!! I was not expecting much, as I'm an older lady who does not often watch 'young people's' movies because I invariably find them uninteresting (to me). But this film is SO well done and has such a lovely and relevant story, that I was hooked from the very start!! The 2 lead actors are amazing in their roles, both very believable. The production values are first class, and the story highlights SUCH an important issue in our world today - that of TOLERANCE & ACCEPTANCE of others. We are each a UNIQUE creation, and consensual adult love in all its forms should be celebrated. There is so much hatred, bigotry and suffering in the world today, we need more films that bring us together, like this one. Congratulations and Thanks to all involved in its creation!!

Good and funny but missed important details.

[oredssonnanna · 7/10 · 11 August 2023]

It was an inherently good movie. It portrayed Alex' comedic personality well and Henry's wittiness was perfect.

But I feel it missed details that I personally feel was very important to the storyline in the book. Such as the fact that Alex' parents were divorced and how this effected Ellen's campaign. Also the importance of the thanksgiving scene were they had a family dinner and how it showed something that had effected Alex a lot.

I missed June as well and a big part of the plot went away with her. The whole magazine thing and the White House trio wasn't there and I could feel it missing.

The portrayal of Nora felt weird as well. As much as I like the actor there was something off. Maybe it's just my own personal picture I got from her in the book that was wrong but I felt the movie character didn't show how busy and clever Nora is. I also missed the whole percentage thing with Alex when he came out to her.

And the fact that they removed the whole crisis he had where he called is old friend and figured out who he was also bothered me.

But I understand it's hard to put so many details into a 2 hour movie and the plot can get a bit crowded but I feel it could have been a better adaptation of the book. Other than that I liked it and I got a good laugh from it.

This Is The One We've Been Waiting For

[rmosher315 · 10/10 · 17 August 2023]

Hallmark clone? Yup. Over the top fairy tale? Agreed.

The best feel good happy ending gay themed romcom I've ever seen? Absolutely 100%

I can't count how many gay themed movies I've wasted hours watching with angsty, cry me a river, gays get the shaft because that's what they deserve storylines. I've longed to see a sappy love story where the guy gets the guy and no one dies or leaves. I wish something like this existed when I was young.

This is the one. It's well done, the lead actors have GREAT chemistry. Even though both of them are straight, they put in the work to make the romance believable and heartfelt. The supporting characters could have been a bit more developed (they were in the book) but they're still funny and likeable.

I highly recommend this movie, especially for young people.

Disappointing, it could have been much better.

[Avidviewer-02847 · 6/10 · 11 August 2023]

I read the book and I looked forward to seeing the film. The book is almost 500 pages long and filled with a lot of text and e-mail messages so I knew it would have to be cut back for a film or TV series. It's a Greg Berlanti production and I've been impressed with his films and TV series.

I wasn't impressed with the script or the casting. Berger and Aptaker who wrote "Love, Simon" and "Love, Victor" or John Butler who wrote and directed "Handsome Devil" would have written a better script IMHO and I wish Greg Berlanti or John Butler directed it. Galitzine and Perez are both very handsome young men, but too old for the parts. In the book Henry is a year out of Oxford and Alex is a senior at Georgetown, so they'd be in their early 20s. I've seen Galitzine in other films: "The Beat Beneath My Feet", "Handsome Devil", "Purple Hearts", "Cinderella"...he's an experienced young actor. While I saw Perez in "The Kissing Booth 2 & 3" and "Minx". I like both of them as actors. Sarah Shahi and Rachel Hilson have some great lines.

I didn't care for Uma Thurman in this role, part was her acting and her accent and part was the direction. A lot of it looked like it was filmed on a sound stage with green screen, the tiny Oval Office and the fake balcony of the White House. Some scenes looked more like they belonged on a theater stage than in a movie, the film director was a stage director. Most of the book takes place in the US, don't know why it was filmed in the UK.

Some scenes worked very well, some scenes not so well and some scenes ended up on the cutting room floor. The scene when Alex is in his rooms at Kensington Palace having arrived to do damage control and Henry walks in looking for Cornetto's, it got cut but we got part of it in a teaser trailer. That's a scene that should have been kept and Alex's campaigning in Texas could have been cut back. We didn't need talking heads Rachael Maddow and Joy Reid, it made it hyper partisan instead of staying with the basic love story.

Rather than a 2 hour film with a lot missing from the book, a mini series of two or three 90 minute episodes would have worked much better. It's not the quality that I expected. I highly doubt this will ever be remade, so this was it.

Bravo Bravo Bravo!!

[bpow05 · 10/10 · 17 August 2023]

Such an important film! Shows true love - real love for what it is for everyone! Love is love. This film is shot well, written brilliantly and has this magnificent charm throughout.

For anyone having trouble accepting a gay family member - this should be a must watch. It is just an absolute brilliant display of humanity with an appropriate Hallmark movie feel that pulls one in to the sweetness of life.

Bravo to Amazon for mainstreaming this issue for us all- yes even today it is important. The two lead actors are delightful, and brilliant and never once did I think about their performance, rather captivated by the story telling. Bravo!

Powerful. Charming. Superb acting.

Aged 'Young Royals'

[exceladeogun · 7/10 · 12 August 2023]

Red, White and Royal Blue

This queer romantic comedy tells the story of a British prince falling in love with the son of an American president, and the roads they travel as they explore this love.

This movie is very reminiscent of the queer teen series, Young Royals, especially with the similar themes both portray, but Red, White and Royal Blue has characters that are more aged.

Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine are brimming with cute and endearing chemistry, making this romcom very enjoyable and believable. The progression from enemies to friends and eventual lovers was a bit fast, but each stage has memorable moments. The supporting cast was also good, especially Sarah Shahi and Uma Thurman (the coming-out scene between her and Taylor Perez was very memorable and sweet), but some of their characters could have been fleshed out better.

Having not read the book, I can't state how faithful it was to it, and if this adaptation is better or worse. But there were some resolutions I felt weren't done, like Nick's journalist friend not getting his comeuppance. The movie would have fared better if it was a mini-series. There's also a sort of imbalance that occurs in the sex/romantic scenes, the scenes before the Paris hotel scene have a Disneyesque tame feel to them, and then the Paris hotel scene packs in beautiful smut.

Red, White and Royal Blue is an easy and enjoyable watch, and should definitely please romcom lovers.

6.5-7/10.

Belongs on Hallmark

[jerkypuck-51929 · 5/10 · 12 August 2023]

Let me start off by saying I am a gay man. I welcome and invite gay romantic comedies IF they are done well. This one comes off as a cheesy, made for TV movie from the music, to the acting (Uma Thurman is dreadful in this), to the melodrama. The direction lacks a filmmaker's eye and it is often apparent that a theater director was at the helm. Things are played very broadly. The two lead actors are quite good with what they were given, but even they can't save this watered down version of the book. The lines they are given to deliver are often embarrassing. One about our lead wanting the Prince to eat barbecue so he could lick it off his lips was particularly corny. This film truly feels like a Lifetime or Hallmark movie.

Cheesy? Yep. Good? Absolutely.

[fryfzmhph · 9/10 · 12 August 2023]

I was saddened to see the mixed/leaning-bad reviews for this. I'm a huge fan of the book and I wanted the movie to do well. So imagine my gratification when I finished it just now and it was an absolute delight. It made me so happy, even as the the movie wasn't without the same moments of heartache from the novel. I came in expecting "discount Hallmark" (something I saw mentioned a few times in this morning's news publications).

All I can say is the reviewers must not have read the source material, because it was largely faithful to it (soz, June). Sure, some things I could have done without (i.e., the villain of the piece), and there were some truly cheesy moments and some convenient happenstances plot-wise, but they just made me laugh without robbing the movie of its loveliness.

Please don't let the reviews scare you away.

A fast paced version of the book

[fersiaf · 7/10 · 12 August 2023]

Well, if you read the book this movie adaptation may be a disappointment for you. Everything seemed so fast in the movie it's like all the important details from the book are overlooked and are not given justice. Similar to a comment here, maybe it this were a series, then it could have been a lot better. It's like the scenes just quickly pan from one scene to another losing the profound moments reflected in the book. Although quite understandable that they need to fit everything in 120 minute more or so into a movie.

One good thing here are getting these actors hot actors to play the gay roles. I wished though that the romance could have been highlighted more.

Horrible depiction of a wonderful book

[gomestim · 4/10 · 12 August 2023]

This was a ride...

Red, White & Royal Blue has disappointed me in so many ways, especially after reading the book.

Acting: The actors were really the worst of the worst. Unbelievable in every way and way too cheesy. It is like they were stage actors dropped into a movie.

The movie took all significant emotional moments from the novel and concised them down so much that they seemed insignificant in this movie. Either they were done way too cheesily or they were just scrapped all the way.

Important characters were simply missing! Where was June? Where was Leo? But most importantly, where was Rafael Luna? He was such an important character in the novel and they just plain removed him from this movie. He was Alex' rolemodel and they shared so many important moments together.

All in all, this was simply a horrible depiction of a wonderful book.

A beautiful Gay romcom which shines bright.

[PlutoZoo · 9/10 · 11 August 2023]

Although this is a typical romcom drama, it feels seminal because it takes Gay movies quite firmly into the mainstream. Yes, we've had many mainstream LGBT films over the years, but they tended to be hard hitting dramas or sad tragedies, with many focusing on the challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community. Yes, we can refer to movies such as the brilliant Pride or recent (not so great) Bros, the sweet Love Simon etc. But this takes it into the fairytale realm: the love between an American President's son and a British Prince, and so, feels that bit different and special as a result.

What Red, White and Royal Blue does is cross the final barrier in placing a gay love story slap bang in the midst of the romcom genre that has traditionally been so straight for so long ... too long, with gay characters merely ancillary storylines if included at all. It reminds me of the Princess Diaries, for example, and just has that sense of being groundbreaking because it's firmly a movie that anyone would watch and everyone should. In essence, it is a family film, innocuous and largely innocent like most others in the genre.

The lovemaking and conversations around sex were no more and no less in your face than any teen romcom and it was pitched well at a wide audience. It would be an ideal movie for young Gay and Bi people who can see themselves represented unashamedly in a mainstream Hollywood type romcom. In that respect, Hollywood is very late in bringing forward a movie like this and similar have existed for many years in Europe, particularly French/Belgian cinema, and the Irish film Handsome Devil to a good degree.

The two lead actors were very good indeed but Nicholas Galitzine, who plays Prince Henry, really steals the show, not just through his stunning beauty but his remarkable acting ability and subtle emotionality which convey such presence that you'd think he was a very seasoned actor indeed. Taylor Perez isn't far behind and also very handsome and talented. They made a very sexy onscreen couple (swoon!) and they should both be very proud of this film, as should the direction and production teams.

There is a moment of great hilarity when the elusive King of England finally enters, played by none other than Stephen Fry, and it crossed my mind that he'd be equally comfortable playing the Queen, and I did laugh at the idea that he might have. I'm pretty sure he'd be amused by that.

Of course, we wouldn't have films such as these without the original story so much credit to the author Casey McQuiston who wrote the book of the same name. People should credit the author of a story in my view because without them, we wouldn't have cinema and writers are forgotten in many cases, with those who write the screenplay often mistakingly assigned the credit for the story. Lots of people are saying that the script leaves out a large part of the book, certain important scenes and characters and that's a pity that they feel it's not as good as the book, but as someone who hasn't read the book I probably will now and look forward to an even better story.

Overall it's higher end for a romcom in production quality and budget and the cast in general are great. There are the customary cheesy speeches and sappy emotion but underlying it is a strong emotional love story that was very touching and I know there will be much excitement in the LGBTQ+ world about this, Heartstopper style excitement. It is justifiable and well deserved.

One of the best books adaption

[anajuliakonflanz · 25 August 2023]

"Red, White & Royal Blue" is one of the best book adaptations I've ever seen. At first, when they showed who would play Henry and Alex, I thought that Taylor Perez wouldn't be anything like Alex, and that the characters wouldn't have any chemistry between them, but when I saw loose scenes on TikTok and watched the movie, I saw that they have chemistry between them, so I started to act as if I had never judged the chosen actors.

Having read the book almost two years ago, I don't remember all the parts in the book, but some are missing from the movie, like the turkey scene (I know it's in the movie, but in the book it's much funnier, since in the movie it doesn't last very long), and also the scene where Henry's mother makes the queen (who becomes king in the movie) abdicate the throne. There are also characters who aren't in the movie or who have been changed, like June, Alex's sister, who doesn't appear in the movie, and Oscar, who is still married to Ellen in the movies.

Anyways, I think the movie is very good, even if I missed a few scenes. I think that if they wanted to make an adaptation with more scenes and details that are contained in the book, they could have made a miniseries, or maybe one day release the movie uncut, since the original is 3 hours long. I hope there will be a second movie or a short film in the future, if possible.

Wish it was a series instead of 2hr movie

[pippippipilika · 7/10 · 13 August 2023]

If director Matthew could have taken the initiative to make it into a series, using all his footages, this might have made more sense and it could have been something beautiful. But his approach was probably... Everybody has already read the book, so they would know which scene means what and what was the backstory, lemme just put a teaser and move to next teaser.

When i first saw the promo, i became intrigued and came to know this movie is based on a novel, so i got the book which is quite a delightful read. And i was pretty invested in Alex and Henry's journey, like Zahra, i was rooting for them too for their happy ending. It's not easy to cram so much of a book into a movie, but what happened here is , everything felt like roller coaster ride. There was such a rush to go from one scene to another, it just didn't feel seamless.

What was seamless though, the leads and their acting. It was like Nicholas and Taylor were hand carved to play Henry and Alex. The movie was totally carried by their presence. Rest were just going over my head.

There were some scenes which were done brilliantly, especially the texting and calling part between Alex and Henry in the beginning which made me feel pretty giddy and thought oukay, the movie's in good director's hand. Then Alex and Nora's conversation about Henry kissing him and what it means for him. And Alex storming the palace to confront his man.

But what wasn't done brilliantly was the relationship progressed way too faster without much build up. They became lovers too fast.

Alex growing his hair in a minute in Paris.

Henry's awful fake hair.

Painful to listen Uma.

The obvious use of green screen.

Zahra and Shaan and a few more things.

After watching the movie, my feeling is like, looking at the stills felt better than watching the actual movie, at least my imagination was not running at 200 km/hr. I could peacefully imagine the scenes using the stills as references.

Finally! A 10 star Gay romantic movie that ticks all the boxes!

[chatwithmichaelmac · 10/10 · 18 August 2023]

Beautifully told, this romantic story is superior in every respect. Superb acting, expertly written and directed it delivers arguably the best Gay film to date.

Avoiding stereotypes and framing it in a seemingly impossible story arc, this wonderful movie rises far above expectations and delivers a special film that leaves you with a full heart and a skip in your step.

The lead actors are totally believable and handsome to boot!

The synopsis suggests a story that would be difficult to imagine and one laden with syrup but what you get is quite the opposite...a believable story with wedding cake but no syrup! ( you'll get the joke if you watch it).

Highly recommended for audiences of all persuasion. Fabulous!

Not faithful to the novel but it's good

[najdiaaadia · 7/10 · 12 August 2023]

As someone that read the book again 1 day before the launch of the movie I got mixed feelings about it. Although the movie is good and cute, lot of characters were omitted and certain important parts as well.

The movie does follow the pg for it but the Paris scene omg, not faithful to the book at all but the smut? Hello? It was amazing. I didn't get it how that was filmed and the other smut scenes were cut of in the middle but yeah, happens I guess.

The ending it's the same of the novel and unfortunately it's mid, I wish they showed Henry's pov like the collectors book edition.

The cast was amazing and I loved the main characters, their chemistry was top tier. I really liked how they worked trough the scenes and how they brought Alex and Henry's feelings so well portrayed.

A wonderful romcom

[Seersha1 · 9/10 · 26 August 2023]

This was a feel good romcom that leaned into the fantasy/fairy tale elements that all good rom coms do, and it was exactly what I needed! I can't think of another gay romcom I've enjoyed watching more. A few lines of dialogue are a bit iffy, but overall it's got solid writing and directing.

The movie shines with the passion the team behind it clearly brought to the table. The intimacy coordinator did an incredible job. The performances are all pretty good, and the leads have undeniable chemistry together, making the central romance one that the audience falls in love with as much as they are falling for each other throughout the movie.

Yes, it could fit in with a lot of the other Hallmark/Netflix genre romantic movies, but that's what makes this truly remarkable. The groundbreaking thing about this movie is that it felt like a movie I had never seen, and yet like a movie I had seen a million times. It is peak comfort viewing, it has a happy ending, and I for one am incredibly glad that this movie exists and is happy to just be what it is - unabashedly.

At only 2 hours, I am sure there are a lot of scenes that were cut that I would have loved to have seen included. I do think had this been a mini-series, it would have perhaps been even better. But then again, I think the movie succeeds very well for what it has chosen to utilize. The pace is fast, but it works.

This is a movie I'd highly recommend if you want to enjoy a feel-good romcom.

Heavenly cheesy

[Alexanders-2 · 7/10 · 15 August 2023]

Some movies I'm ashamed to have seen. And probably that would have been the case with this film, too, if it had been a straight story. But it isn't. The incredible improbability of the son of the US President falling for the Prince of Cambridge - and vice versa - makes this a fairy tale from the start, which of course ends well and has at least one irresistibly charming and GOOD-looking leading man. That the chemistry between the two was not the best, I quickly overlooked and enjoyed more the dialogues and the fact that I just got a good mood. The world in this film is just too perfect, the backgrounds too CGI and that's exactly why I was just happy after 2 hours. I could also laugh several times at Sarah Shahi, who is an absolute asset to this production. More of her please, she has immense comic talent. Sure - the film is not a milestone in film history, but it makes life a little bit nicer in these bad times and hits exactly the right political notch, which threatens to divide a country like the USA, if a criminal should become president again.

As a Queer Gen Z Boy, I Hate This.

[antinymgaming · 1/10 · 18 December 2023]

There is a lot of great queer media that's been released recently and in the past covering a variety of communities and subcultures. There has also been some fantasy wish fulfillment stuff which I don't prefer but can interesting and entertaining on it's own merits.

This movie and the book it comes from are repulsive to to me for 2 reasons:

Firstly: It completely misunderstands gay relationships between men, its not just unrealistic (which could be ok) it's cartoonish and stereotypical, just not in the usual way.

Secondly: It's objectifying and accessorizing to male homosexuality. This is not gay fiction by or for a man, this is gay fiction by and for WOMEN.

The second issue is what I'd like to zero in on, because on one hand I could see how this could aid in it being appreciated as a campy romp by my fellow gays, but on the other this is possibly one of the most regressive gay movies to ever be released.

I've never met a gay/bi guy in person who likes this movie (if they've seen it), I've met to many women enthusiastically praise this movie whilst also behaving in subtlety homophobic ways towards me. I feel they mostly are ignorant of what allyship as a straight person actually means.

This is a generalized experience and to be clear, the women in my life that are important to me (many of which are queer) can have a nuanced conversation and perspective on the subject of women writing gay men through the female gaze.

However as it stands, this movie is a frustratedly shallow BL fantasy for women that's on the same level as Twilight masquerading as a progressive drama/comedy that socially accessorizes and objectifies queer men.

History, huh?

[sini-200 · 10/10 · 11 August 2023]

I'm huge fan of Casey McQuiston 'Red White Royal Blue' book that is best books I've read. The movie does justice to the movie. Henry and Alex are portrayed perfectly by Taylor and Nicholas. Uma Thurman is fantastic Madame President.

Sure there are some plot storys missing, like Luna and June, but you dont really feel them missing. June could have been great add. I did like them not doing the fake dating thing.

Above all, it's a story about love. We need more stories like this, love is for all. Love that conquers all, no matter where it doesn't matter where you come from, your position or background.

I will be watching this over and over and fall in lovr with Alex and Henry all over again.

Light hearted, Thoroughly enjoyable Romcom - Improves upon the book it's adapted from, but mystifying decisions on scene deletions/pacing render it Good rather than Great.

[Jay-SR · 7/10 · 2 September 2023]

I've seen this film twice in the 3 weeks since it released. Obviously, I liked it quite a bit and frankly, I found it better than the book (which I'd read a couple of years back and went back to re-read after my first viewing of the film).

I've seen several comparisons of the film to the book, and the general consensus seems to be that the book was better. I quite disagree with this. In many ways, the film was actually better than the book.

Certain changes the film made - for example, removing June's character entirely and presenting Nora as a combination of the book's Nora and June - worked very well, IMO. As was the elimination of Rafael Luna's character and kinda/sorta substituting that with the track of the jealous/spiteful Miguel Ramos.

However, while I found the film to be very entertaining, certain aspects concerned with scene deletions and pacing, detracted from its overall appeal. This could have really gone down as one of the Greatest Romcoms but settles for being a Rather good one, instead.

For one thing, the pacing of the romance between Alex and Henry felt a bit rushed. There wasn't enough interaction shown from the time they meet up in UK on the fake "we are actually best chums" interviews for the benefit of the media, to the time of Alex's New Year eve bash. Yes, we are shown a very creatively portrayed montage of their emails/ chats with each other, but this should have been fleshed out more. Considering that the book shows Henry as being actively involved in his friend Percy's foundation (which has extensive charitable activities on both sides of the Atlantic), the film could so easily have shown Henry coming over to the US in connection with these duties and actually having a couple of meetups with Alex, deepening their friendship, *before* the New Year's eve bash.

Also, several of the Director's decisions on deleting scenes make no sense whatsoever and actually detract from the film. For instance, the "Cornetto scene" at Kensington Palace which was later released as a separate one off - why on earth was this ever deleted from the final cut of the film? It's a Very meaningful scene, well acted by both the leads, and shows vividly the push-pull nature of their strong attraction to each other even at the time when they supposedly disliked each other.

Another example here is the way the film cuts from the Polo match at Windsor straightaway to the cafe in Paris. It's so abrupt that it's evident there's a deleted scene there. And in fact, the original scene at the Polo match itself is longer, has Alex and Henry having a longer interaction with each other. Likewise, from the "flashback shots" which play when Alex is addressing the media (after the news of his and Henry's relationship is leaked) - we see snatches of more deleted scenes . Alex and Henry spending a romantic time together in Paris, for one. Having a fireside chat at a bonfire in Alex's family ranch in Texas, for another. Alex and Henry having breakfast together at Kensington Palace after they reconcile - yet another deleted scene.

I'm not quite sure what the thought process was to restrict the film to slightly less than 2 hours, and delete so many pivotal scenes which should have been retained. The audience would have been perfectly content with 20-30 minutes or so longer in the film - or else as a mini series with, say, 3 episodes of an hour each. This would have given some more breathing room to both explore Alex's and Henry's relationship in greater detail, as well as flesh out the interaction with other key family members.

I definitely wished we had a bit more nuance in the way Ellen Claremont is shown reacting when Alex comes out to her. Yes, it was wonderful to see how supportive and accepting she was, but she wouldn't be human if she didn't also wonder how it would affect her tight reelection campaign. At least a scene or two showing her doubts on this, before she realizes she needs to place her son's happiness first, would have been great. I would also have loved to see more of interaction between Ellen Claremont and Henry, after she comes to know about Alex's and Henry's relationship. We get to see snatches of Henry interacting with Alex's Dad after Alex come out to his parents - but never with his Mom. Likewise, it would have been great having a scene which showed Bea as supporting Alex, in his attempt to get through to Henry at Kensington Palace when Henry was "ghosting" him.

That said, despite the rushed pacing, I found myself rooting for Alex & Henry despite the "fairy tale" nature of this romance. While it may be formulaic and somewhat far fetched, the very nature of Romcoms requires a willing suspension of disbelief and analysing it with more heart than head. This film certainly made me willing to do both!

The chemistry between Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine is top notch throughout the film - scorching hot and passionate, while also being very tender and romantic. It would have been best to retain more scenes of this magical pair instead of paring them down. Taylor is simply a revelation this film - he brings a heady blast of charisma to his portrayal of Alex. His superb looks and ripped physique obviously help, but equally compelling are his expressive eyes and contagious, million $$ smile.

I for one, would definitely hope that there is a Director's cut/ extended edition of the film (including the deleted scenes) which could be released later. That version would surely warrant an 8.5- 9 rating.

No Real Sparks

[TheFearmakers · 5/10 · 11 August 2023]

With the usual forced hipness of an Amazon Prime original movie... where everyone's on the same level of pop culture glibness... Red, White and Royal Blue plays it too safe with the inevitable romance between a female president's son (who grew up "working class" before his mom became the leader of the free world, somehow) and the classy, born-rich prince of England...

Being a rom-com, both are supposed to be polar opposites, and yet they're not different enough to comically clash before inevitably connecting: the prince is snobby and antisocial yet he's also cool and affable, while the President's son is socially confident yet is also geeky and vulnerable...

And while there's an attempt to make their initial anti-bonding work by a rudimentary viral moment involving a large cake... it's extremely contrived, seeming out of a sitcom rather than a genuine movie...

The two male leads should have been fleshed out separately and equally: we kind of know the American son yet don't really know the prince at all...

And since the surrounding side-characters are so progressively cautious and broadly modern-thinking (aka politically-correct), there's no edge to the couple's controversial union (which is the story's primary twist) to make any kind of decent comedy from it, romantic or otherwise.

Texas tops England!

[NothingSacred_com · 9/10 · 15 August 2023]

None of you, I'm quite sure, will be shocked to learn that I am gay. This is appropriate to mention only because of the nature of this particular film, RED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE. I am not here to tell you the plot, or comment too much on the writing or production. Instead, I want to talk about the thrill of seeing two hot guys kissing and making out in an expensive production.

Taylor Zakhar Perez, this year's version of Justin Baldoni, has finally hit the big time with this Amazon Pictures original. There's another steamboat in the movie (Nicholas Galitzine), but believe me, this is Taylor's show. Tall and lean and beautiful, the man commands the screen from start to finish in his first starring vehicle. He's so hot, in fact, that the real mystery here is why he isn't already married and trailing a line of disappointed ex-suitors! Poor Galitzine seems nervous and grumpy much of the time, probably because he was expecting to be the Hot One. Sorry! Maybe next time.

The book RED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE by non-binary author Casey McQuiston is just your basic romance novel containing all the requisite steps to the happy ending: Cute Meeting, Initial Hatred, Unexpected Sexual Attraction, Kissing, Separation, Complications, Tears & Pouting, Solemn Slow-Motion Sex, A Last-Minute Desperate Journey, Confrontations, Happy Ending. McQuiston, like most females unfamiliar with the male sex, seems totally in the dark about the way lustful young men ACTUALLY behave together once the clothes are off, but no matter. We're not here for a lesson on sex, we're here for Romance. Luckily, Zakhar Perez's Alex has enough flame-thrower sex-appeal to ignite even Galitzine's wet-kindling Henry. The two men certainly kiss convincingly enough, although I'm still not convinced there was any actual wood on the set, if you know what I mean.

Others can talk about what's in the film, but I want to take a minute to mention some vitally important things that are NOT in this movie, including: a fake wife/girlfriend; a tragic deadly disease; Straight White Males; gay bashers who kill one of the men; and most blessedly, Religion. Finally! A gay romance without one mention of the stupid hatred of modern religious cults toward love!

Director/writer Matthew Lopez keeps the pace fast and sexy until the end, which is good- we don't want to linger over any of the logic in this alleged plot. The lines are good enough to get the points across. The production is Big Money good. 'Nuff said.

Refreshing and breezy, the first two acts detail a very satisfying growing love between two hot, YOUNG men (Wait- what age are they supposed to be? Alex is still in college, but he's 32? The Prince hasn't been forced to marry at the age of 29??) as they sneak around in back rooms and polo gear sheds (total rubbish, of course-secret service and guards? Hello??) and such. But it's a fantasy, so we overlook this dumbness. Inevitably, the script turns to worn-out soap opera garbage in the third act when Henry, in the distaff role, is forced to flee their burgeoning love affair, crying out in anguish, "I can never love you because_______(insert any fake reason here, it doesn't matter which one)!" Clutch pearls, wave tear-stained hanky.

But none of that matters, because we are here solely to drool over Taylor Zakhar Perez (and Galitzine)! These two men have spectactular chemistry together, 100% better than CALL ME BY YOUR NAME.

So hooray for Zakhar Perez and Galitzine! Hooray for seeing two men kiss each other with some actual tenderness and heat! Hooray for seeing The Rest Of Us on screen for once, without one of them ending up dead or forced to marry a girl! Hooray for RED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE!