Though not one of Hallmark's best, 'A Royal Queens Christmas' is a sweet love story nonetheless. The movie draws on a very popular plot device: deception and mistaken identity. Here, they use the classic 'incognito royals': the royal (almost always a prince) pretends to be a 'commoner' and ends up falling in love with one of them, they find out, they break-up, they make-up and live happily ever after. The story here is your classic version of this. That is, it is quite ordinary and predictable as far as plots go. Still, the movie does have a feeling of warmth and charm to it that I suspect many will enjoy. The story follows Dee Dee (played by Megan Park), a single woman who is currently working at her cousin's bakery after completing her service in the military while she figures out what her next career move will be. While delivering some baked goods, she runs into Colin (played by Julian Morris) in a hotel lobby, crushing the pastries she was supposed to deliver. To make up for the mess, Colin offers to step in for her dad as the pianist for the local children's choir, which she is directing, and who are rehearsing for the local community Christmas show. Little does she know that Collin is the Crowned Prince of Exeter. And so, our story begins as we watch the two spend time together exploring the city and rehearsing for the Christmas concert while at the same time discovering the feelings they have for each other. For the first 30 minutes or so, the story is quite engaging. I found myself pulled in by the narrative. However, this breaks down about halfway through as a result of some clunky scenes and dialogue, which by this point, is rather dull. The writers could have done a better job of developing Dee Dee's backstory. This comes up briefly in the scenes with her mother but lacks depth. Instead, much of the writers' energy is spent on the Crowned Prince's backstory, an easier story to write, I suspect. The acting, overall, is pretty good. Park had a decent performance, I thought. As others have pointed out, the consistency of her New York accent is an issue at times. Morris's performance is the best part of the movie. It is believable, convincing. He has a regal, yet pleasant and friendly vibe to his portrayal of the Crowned Prince, which I found appealing to watch on-screen. The chemistry between the two is not bad (though not great either). Simply put: it is good enough. I thought Dee Dee's parents were fun to watch (played by Tony Nappo and Ramona Milano). I enjoyed the loveable Italian-American family vibe in this one. There is also some nice piano playing in a couple of scenes along with some fairytale-like Christmas scenery and decorations. There is plenty of Christmas spirit and festive cheer. All in all, it is a decent Hallmark Christmas movie that provides, at times, some sweet holiday entertainment. Fans of Hallmark's royal Christmas movies will no doubt enjoy.
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toddsgraham29 December 2021
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Positives: I've always enjoyed Julian Morris and he is very nice to look at, too! Megan Park did well as the leading lady, and I thought she and the actors playing her family had nice chemistry together.
The story dragged a bit, but the scenes with the kids were all very sweet. Morris and Park were a nice team with her as the director and him as the pianist!
NOW for my pet peeve - for the love of God, can someone PLEASE teach actors how to conduct properly?! I can teach someone to conduct a simple 3 or 4 pattern in a matter of minutes. It is incredibly frustrating to see such laughable conducting for a supposed trained musician, and this movie is not Hallmark's first offense! -
Jackbv12312 December 2021This movie is about what you'd expect for a "royal" movie where the prince tries to hide his identity. In this case, he is a supremely talented piano player who is shamed into subbing as the pianist for a children's choir performance and rehearsals after he smashes pastry samples DeeDee is carrying. Somehow, there are several days of the typical Christmas activities tied into it for the kids. Meanwhile, his mom and dad, the King and Queen, are pushing him to marry a Duchess. If you sit down and write a plot outline for the rest of the movie before watching it you are bound to be almost perfectly correct.
At one point, DeeDee reveals she was once in the armed services. This could have been an interesting subplot, but it barely comes up again.
The story is thin and recycled. The relationship is OK, but nothing outstanding. There's a small bit about their separate ornaments which again could have been expanded more.
This would probably be a decent movie if you had never seen a Christmas romance before, at least not a "royal" one. -
glenn-whitelaw3 January 2022A royal Prince is to be married but ends up in Queens. Sound familiar. Yep it's Coming to America without mcdowalls and Samuel l jackson. The difference is there's not best friend and no James Earl Jones.
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cgvsluis19 December 2021Deedee and Colin run in to one another in a fancy hotel in New York. Deedee has just gotten out of the K-9 unit in the military and is struggling with what her next career move will be. She doesn't know that Colin is the crown prince of the fictional Exiter, where his whole life is planned. Deedee and her very Italian family show Colin what a real neighborhood Christmas is in Queens. Colin has a wonderful time and falls hard for Deedee.
I don't know what it is about an accent but it works every time.
Sweet holiday fun with a ridiculously romantic storyline, holiday decorations, piano playing and a lovable Italian family...lovable Nona included. -
atlasmb12 December 2021Like many Hallmark romances, this one is about a man and woman who come from different circumstances. They could hardly be further apart than a New York bakery worker and a British prince being groomed for succession.
Julian Morris' portrayal of Prince Colin is the best part of the film. He feels genuinely regal yet very likable. One could understand that any woman might fall for his rugged good looks, his affable personality, and his musical talents. His attraction to DeeDee (Megan Park) is a little harder to explain. We are to believe that the prince has little access to women of quality, perhaps due to his parents' well-meaning control of his life. Fortunately, he is attended by Whitbey (acted by Tony Nappo, who makes the most of his part), who is charged with overseeing the prince's activities, but cuts him some slack.
The acting is good, but the story---after some energy in the first part---bogs down in the mechanics of their obstacles. -
JoBloTheMovieCritic26 December 20216/10 - the royal Christmas movies are always a bit of extra fun when it comes to holiday TV movies and while this does not do anything to reinvent the wheel, it is still quite enjoyable.
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Kitty7418 December 2021ARG!!! When the mother said that Italians call Tomato Sauce Gravy, I screamed at the TV! "NO WE DON'T!!!"
We call it Sauce! We have always called it Sauce. It is Sauce with Meatballs and Italian Sausage! -
MickyG33327 November 20226.6 stars.
All honesty, I grinned a few times, laughed once. That's more than I can say for most Hallmark. I am Italian from Jersey, so the NY setting is not lost on me.
The lead actress did the Queens personality justice, and he played a good British accented prince of Exeter. What I really enjoyed was how authentic everything seemed. I said authentic, not realistic. The glaring improbabilities were things such as her father, ex-military, truck driver being a skilled piano player. Ummm, nope. And her grandmother (Nona) had been married 55 years, and her husband had died some years ago. Uh uh. She wasn't a day over 65, and her daughter is pushing 50.
It took a bit for me to warm up to her, and he was a bit juvenile for a while - but they bounced back.
Her mother was the quintessential NY Italian matriarch figure we are all familiar with (think of Cher in Moonstruck). Not as rough as Cher, but the same general feeling.
Some say this movie started off well, and ended badly? Nay, nay, quite the opposite indeed. But, somewhere along the line it kinda got lost, and there were a few slow parts where it strayed off course.
The ending did not disappoint.
I have watched 23 and reviewed 21 Hallmark Christmas movies so far this week. I currently have 70 on DVR and will probably record another 50 or more. The two I didn't comment on were so abysmal I didn't watch enough of them to write a review. This one ranks #15 of the 23, so not too shabby. I suppose in light of that, take it or leave it. I'd still watch this one if I had the choice, but it would be placed on the back burner. -
TheLittleSongbird6 March 2023Have never had anything against Hallmark, who have had quite a lot of misfires but also a lot of films that were decent and more, and love Christmas. Am however though not a fan mostly of their royal-themed films, of which there has been at least one in all their years between 2014 to now, for similar reasons to each other. That's including the ones set at Christmas. There are some nice ones out there, but too many of them are formulaic and cheesy with unappealing characters.
'A Royal Queen's Christmas' thankfully is not one of the worst royal themed Hallmark films or of their hit and miss (but actually better than expected considering the circumstances) 2021 output. It is also not one of the best on both counts, 2021 actually did some good Hallmark films but 'A Royal Queen's Christmas' isn't one of them. Actually consider it one of the middling, average efforts from that year. There are obvious good things here but also some of the usual flaws seen in the royal themed Hallmark films.
The best thing about it is Julian Morris, who is dashing and immensely likeable. His appeal completely understandable and irresistible. The supporting cast are also solid, not too broad and also never phoned in. Tony Nappo is a sheer delight and makes the most of all his screen time, as does charming Romana Milano. Jane Wheeler is also dignified and sympathetic.
Can understand the criticisms with the production values, they are lacking in authenticity but this reviewer has seen much cheaper Hallmark films. Did think it was pleasingly shot and the scenery is beautiful, even though the editing can be sloppy. 'A Royal Queen's Christmas' also starts off very well, with a lot of charm and heart as well as a amusing light hearted-ness.
Megan Park for me was inconsistent. She was bubbly and charming to begin with, but didn't seem as relaxed in the latter portions. She is at her worst though when the truth comes out (and it did in a rather contrived way) and everything afterwards, where she comes over as emotionally cold and hammy. It is at this point too where her character becomes intolerable, where she comes over as petulently spoiled, selfish and unreasonably demanding without giving him a chance. She and Morris' chemistry on the whole is bland, nice to begin with where there is some spark but the spark goes and the relationship becomes too distant and low key.
Didn't mind massively that the story was predictable throughout, as that was expected, though it did take away from any surprises or suspense. Did mind however how much it drags, how mechanical and thin the second half is, the too convenient contrivances and how easily and too quickly it all resolves. Also found the resolution unrealistic and unwarranted. The characters are underdeveloped Hallmark cliches and Park's character is very problematic later. The dialogue is indicative of the writers phoning in and it is just really awkward and cheesy. The direction is mechanical and the music overbears.
On the whole, not awful but very middling and average. 5/10. -
Kirpianuscus25 December 2022The main question, in my case, was about the option for role of prince. Julian Morris offers a decent character but not the most credible. Sure, the solution is the nice craft of Michael Hanrahan for a beautiful Whiteby.
The story is so familiar than it has all chances to become boring or simple chain of cliches. But an Italian nonna and two small pianos as portbonheur are good and useful ingredients for a decent story. Awful remains the end, so unrealistic and the too imprecise chemistry between prince and people girl than the hope of his future near Adriana sounds just decent.
But, sure, only new remind about American fascination around monarchy. In short, like many other Hallmark, nice. But not more. -
txharrington14 December 2021This was one of my very favorite hallmark movies this year. I've been super disappointed with hallmark movies this year and this is one, of a handful, that I would actually recommend to my friends! Also, Mrs. Miracle and Christmas family tree are very good this year!!
Super cute! -
evans-1547510 July 2022As all these films have basically the same script the chemistry between the leads makes or breaks the enjoyment and here it was good Megan definitely gives of a girl next door vibe and every European prince should be a genuine British actor. Loved when the grandma said she'd googled who he was as this is always the hole in the plot of these films.
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mamachikn25 September 2022This confirms why I dislike Hallmark royal movies.
I did like the authentic accent of the English lead, but it's silly that every fake country in these movies has to have an English accent. Most of these accents are awful.
There must be anger in every movie, why, I don't know. It's always "you lied", no matter if it's explained well or not, and always full of an unforgiving attitude. It's annoying and makes me dislike the angry person. Who would go after someone with that meanness? Doesn't make for a good relationship.
The scooter at the end was laughable. Really? A prince, unable to get a taxi, riding a scooter from Manhattan to Queens?
And the costume department was really bad, as has been mentioned. Not only was the prince wearing a Marine dress uniform, but it was one stripe!! A lance corporal, the third lowest rank. One year in the Marines. Seriously, those patches should have been removed. What were people thinking?
And apparently, the king no longer cared if his son didn't want to lead his country. The King was going to retire, anyway, eventually. Is that how it works? Not hardly. Not in any known monarchy. His cousin was going to take over the throne. Ugh. Just stupid. -
aeszeki30 October 2022I would have given a higher rating if they had bothered to find an actor to play the king, who was able to pronounce the name of his country. I think that he only said it correctly twice, almost like by accident. Annoying!
I liked the leads and they had good chemistry. Decent acting. The prince was very handsome and sweet, had an honesty about him. The girl was not over the top like many of the female leads in these types of films. Had one moment of exaggeration with the "I will go to clean up like a normal person" line (paraphrasing). She got over that pretty quickly, and was acceptable throughout. -
JM_in_Jax14 December 2021Cute, fluffy. Some fun moments. Music is pretty good. I kept wanting Prince Colin's assistant Wimpy to say "I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today."
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jmwolken17 December 2021This was a cute story that was enjoyed at our house. I thought the choice of actors was great which contained several I had not seen before or remembered seeing. This will be one we will enjoy watching again during future holiday seasons.
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I'm trying to find something positive to say about this movie.
I like the family situation (I know no more about Queens than I do the fictional Exeter). It was a typical Hallmark rom-com I suppose.
I couldn't get past the fact that the prince's uniform was a US Marine dress blue top with some tinsel on the shoulders. Is the budget really so low?
At the risk of being unkind, I'm not sure Megan Park is really leading lady material.
Guess I'll get some thumbs down, but I can't recommend this movie. -
fschambow25 December 2021I love this movie. Has a plot. Love the actress. Just a cute cheerful fun movie to see. I love how the have the main girl character who was in the army. Since I was in the military myself. I would buy this.
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bowtie-577942 January 2023As a former Marine, the deliberate mutation of a Marine Dress Blues Blouse to use as a prop in a movie is disgusting. Marines have fought and died wearing that uniform. Men and women have joined the Marine Corps just to be able to wear the Dress Blue Uniforms. I personally owned three sets of Dress Blues when I served. To see this while watching the movie made me both sick and highly upset when I saw this that I changed the channel. I will never watch this movie due to this disgusting mutation. Hallmark needs to hire someone who has a military background as a technical advisor to ensure that issues like this don't happen again.
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kejjr-2708024 December 2021I judge Hallmark movies against other Hallmark movies. I really liked this one. I know, everything is predictable, but somehow this one was the best of all the 2021 Christmas movies I've watched so far. A nice break from today's troubles and worries.
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jenrn-0972212 December 2021What is with this actress and the fact that all her movies she meets a prince? I believe this is number 3 for her. And it's completely unbelievable. There's no way she's "career military". She's too small, too young, and certainly doesn't carry herself as if she was career military - so not sure why that was mentioned in the movie - it was never incorporated into the plot. Let's not forget about her bad Brooklyn accent that keeps coming and going from scene to scene. The snowman competition was so completely fake it was pathetic. Have you ever seen so many perfectly round, perfectly smooth giant snowballs for snowmen in your life? Sorry, but snow doesn't work that way. It also seemed too warm and sunny throughout the movie to be winter in Queens.
And what royal commoner-meets-prince movie wouldn't be complete without the commoner finding out he's a prince and being completely angry that he "didn't tell her"? I don't understand why these princes continue to chase the girl after they turn the cold shoulder once they find out he's a prince.
I did find the duchess he was supposed to marry refreshing when she tells him she doesn't want to marry him either. This is the second movie with this lead actress that the rival for the prince's affection turns out not to be in love with the prince.
The actor playing the prince was good, there is good chemistry between the leads at times, but no woman walks away from a man if she supposedly feels so strongly about him, especially if he's a prince AND he's persuing her. She just really didn't seem that sad or broken up that things didn't work out with the prince. She seems totally willing to let him go and move on.
Finally at the end, everything worked out too easily, with no effort or emotion on her part. The prince seemed to be the only one who was invested in getting the two of them together. The ending felt rushed and there were no warm fuzzies when things were wrapped up in a neat little bow. It had it's moments, but I don't think it's worth more than a one-time watch. -
aab87419 January 2022Favorite scene with
Daphne Dolores "Dee Dee" Paretti (Megan Park) - Her Wish coming true at the Christmas Tree Lighting - Colin. BTW, I Loved this movie! -
SherryPhilyaw12 December 2021I normally love Hallmark movies and record them so I can watch them over and over again. I have already deleted this one. Too predictable, characters too annoying, accents and conversations between characters were obnoxious. The biggest annoyance was the Prince wearing a United States Marine Corps uniform with a sash over it. Whoever chose that specific uniform for this movie is completely clueless about how disrespectful they were to the USMC.
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That was lovely!! Nice to watch with the family! Very funny as well. Nice to see some diverse characters as well. The royal Christmas 2 should have a prince from Brazil or something exotic even though this dude played very well. Looking forward to seeing all these actors new work in the future.