The Princess Diaries: 2 Movie Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

The Princess Diaries: 2 Movie Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

She's all that.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 5, 2012

No one can quit being who they really are.

It's every little girl's fantasy, and even the big dream of grown-up girls who might not be the most popular, the wealthiest, or the prettiest in school, at work, or around town. That dream is to one day be whisked away into a fairy tale-come-to-life, to live a real-life rags-to-riches impossible dream sort of story, to escape all the ills of one life and be thrust into another of prestige, riches, history, and where respect is a way of life, not a rare courtesy. It's the kind of thing, really, that only happens in the movies, and it's happened again -- twice -- in The Princess Diaries, a lighthearted and well made little series about a nobody teenaged girl with big glasses and frazzled hair who's the joke of her school but turns out to be a princess and the heir-apparent to the throne of a small (and fictional) European country. Looks like the joke's on her crude classmates. The Princess Diaries, directed by Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman), is aimed at young girls in particular, but girls of all ages with a dream, a funny bone, and a love for storybook romance. And for the guys, well, here's some good advice: give the ladies a night to themselves, go watch Die Hard again, and be glad this one's playing in another room.

Her highness.

The Princess Diaries
Score: 3/5

Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) might be the shiest, most invisible girl at her posh San Francisco prep school. Frizzy hair, four eyes, and a fear of public speaking has her on the wrong side of jokes. Her only real friend is the buck-toothed Lilly (Heather Matarazzo) who doesn't seem to mind Mia'a lack of popularity, style, or rhythm. One day, Mia is called upon to meet with her Genovian grandmother Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews) from whom she learns that she is not only the daughter of a struggling San Francisco painter (Caroline Goodall), but that she's also European royalty. She's Princess Mia, daughter of the late King and destined to rule the nation. But she's just a nobody. She's allowed the teasing to get to her head, leaving her perpetually put down and absent even a smidgen of self-confidence, not exactly the stuff of a national figurehead. But with her grandmother's help, the encouragement of her bodyguard Joe (Hector Elizondo), and a makeover at the hands of a style magician named Paolo (Larry Miller), Mia just might find her inner Princess after all.

The Princess Diaries might be charming and cute, but it's hardly the stuff of original moviemaking. Here's another in a rather long and storied line of "zero to hero," "rags to riches," "nobody to somebody" tales that include makeovers, increasing self-confidence, and a very general feel-good vibe that speaks to audiences on the importance of faith, self-confidence, and trust in fate. It's the prototypical magical transformation movie that sees the transformation of a self-desscribed "invisible" girl who hurls at the mere thought of public speaking into a polished princess who goes from frizzy to pretty in, oh, about an hour and fifty minutes. The movie basically builds up towards Mia'a ability to accept the position of Princess from behind a podium following an embarrassing classroom exercise where she's tasked with speaking before her peers. In between, her hair is straightened, her glasses removed, and her confidence ever-so-slightly elevated above the level of "negative 872." But for as unimaginative and predictable as the movie may be, it's genuinely funny consistently charming. The plot is the sort that never really wears out or even wears thin. It's uplifting and offers a good message on remaining true to oneself but also finding something on the inside that others miss. The cast is excellent, and much like Garry Marshall's Pretty Woman, this film is rightly remembered for its leads but it's Hector Elizondo and Larry Miller who absolutely round the movie into shape.

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Score: 2.5/5

Mia Thermopolis is five years older but not necessarily five years wiser or five years removed from her clumsiness. She's just graduated from college, and the time has come for her to pack up her things and make the big jump across the pond to take her rightful place in Genovian history and settle in as that nation's new Queen. She and her trusted feline companion Fat Louie board a plane and make it safely to Genovia, but if Mia simply expected to plop herself down on that throne, well, she has another thing coming. It turns out that an old Genovian tradition states that for a Queen to take the throne, she must be married. Parliament -- in a revolt against Mia and led by the nefarious Viscount Mabrey (John Rhys-Davies) -- has ordered the throne to another heir apparent, Nicholas Devereaux (Chris Pine), unless Mia can find herself a husband in thirty day's time. As she pours through a list of suitors with the help of Queen Clarisse Renaldi and her visiting best friend Lilly, Mia thinks she's found "the one" in Prince Andrew Jacoby (Callum Blue). Will she fall in love with this potential husband, or will Mia find the courage to bypass parliament and rule on her own terms?

Although there's no "ugly" Mia this go-round, save for a few flashbacks and a photograph, Princess Diaries 2 follows basically the same cadence, the film again featuring Mia in search of her inner-confidence, this time as she maneuvers her way not through the hallowed halls of San Francisco High and the minefield that is her own mind, but rather through Genovian custom and matters of the heart. The picture recalls scenes and lines from the first -- and from the entire Garry Marshall canon at that -- and finds little originality, spunk, or heart. The movie is overlong and poorly paced, with forced humor and a disappointing lack of charm. The story's predictable at that, though that comes with the territory for a genre picture of this style. The Princess Diaries 2 is very well made, however. Garry Marshall's direction is playfully inviting and steady, even if the picture overstays its welcome. Costumes and sets are seamless, mostly, with only a few distracting digital elements early on detracting from the rest. The acting is fine, with Andrews and Elizondo stealing the show and their stories proving more interesting than the lead. Hathaway looks great, regal and prim and everything a fairy tale Princess should be -- if she were animated she couldn't be any more a Disney Princess -- and she lights up the screen in a very Julia Roberts-esque way every time she appears. Chris Pine, in his first role, does all he can to channel Alec Baldwin, while the venerable John Rhys-Davies does well as a jolly good villain.

The Princess Diaries: 2 Movie Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Princess Diaries
Score: 4.5/5

Disney's Blu-ray release of the original The Princess Diaries appears pretty much faultless. The image retains a light grain structure and the print is free of any evident defects. Fine detail impresses throughout. The image is consistently sharp -- even at a distance -- and always crisp. It picks up some excellent textures and details beyond the general faces and clothes and building façades, yielding impressive little touches on slightly worn school lockers and odds and ends around the classroom and the Genovian consulate. Colors are perhaps just a hair dim. The image cannot be called "vibrant," but color balance is fine and the image displays reds, blues, greens, and other brighter shades with a mostly natural flavor. It resolves the "dart throwing" multicolored painting scene with professionalism and accuracy. Black levels are fine, and flesh tones are true. The image suffers from no readily-apparent blockiness, haloing, or banding, save for a smidgen of the former at the very beginning across a blue sky appearing behind the film's title. In short, this is an excellent transfer from Disney.

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Score: 4/5

The Princess Diaries 2's 1080p, 1.78:1-framed Blu-ray transfer doesn't fare quite as well as the original film's high definition presentation. To be sure, this image is filmic and yields strong clarity, great detailing, and fabulous colors. The entire palette pops, and pinks, blues, reds, greens, and yellows appear vibrant and true. Details are just as good, with the transfer revealing intricate facial and clothing textures with ease, while the image also showcases all the regal Genovian ornaments and furnitures and other assorted objects with sometimes startling clarity and accuracy. Blacks are good, and flesh tones are even. Unfortunately, the image appears sometimes overly processed, unnaturally sharp, and with light edge enhancement. Still, blocking, banding, and the like are kept to a barely-noticeable minimum. This is a good transfer, but a few flaws keep it from greatness.

The Princess Diaries: 2 Movie Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Princess Diaries
Score: 4/5

The Princess Diaries features a well-balanced and lively DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. It plays with excellent presence, authority, and attention to detail. Music delivery is smooth, spacious, and enjoys a positive low end support structure, giving it critical body and balance. Magically light airy notes twirl about the listening area with ease. Popular music enjoys these same attributes, though it's naturally heftier and more energetic. The track enjoys consistently good light ambience, everything from the background ringing of the school bell to heavy thunder and drenching rain late in the movie. The latter two elements don't play with the sort of dynamic, accurate immersion listeners might expect -- it's a little front-heavy and flat -- but most environmental effects are sufficiently accurate. Still, this is primarily a music-and-dialogue sort of film. The spoken word plays effortlessly and clearly through the front-middle, never becoming muddled or lost to surrounding elements. Longtime fans of the film will really appreciate the boost this one enjoys from Disney's quality lossless presentation.

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Score: 4/5

The Princess Diaries 2 graces Blu-ray with a high-quality DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The track is always lively and plays with very good clarity and accuracy. Score is rousing and pop songs energetic. Both are very well spaced, crystal-clear, and make good, noticeable, but not overzealous use of the surround channels. The entire thing flows naturally, whether music, ambient effects, or dialogue. The lavish and spacious Genovian reception halls capture good little ambient effects -- echoing voices, chatter, footfalls -- and the result is a nicely immersive experience. Dialogue plays cleanly and smoothly from the center. Better, surrounding music and effects never interfere with dialogue clarity or intelligibility. This is a full, satisfying, well-rounded track from Disney.

The Princess Diaries: 2 Movie Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-pack of The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement contains scant Blu-ray extras, but the included DVD copies of both films feature a wealth of bonus materials. Below is a breakdown of what's included with each film's Blu-ray and DVD.

The Princess Diaries

Blu-ray:

• Outtakes & Bloopers (480p, 4:20).

DVD:

• A New Princess (480p, 24:19): A humorous feature that takes a lighthearted look at the film, including cast and crew assembly, the qualities the cast brought to the film, specifics of the plot and Hathaway's immersion into the role, Garry Marshall's work as director, anecdotes from the set, and more.
• Audio Commentary: Director Garry Marshall delivers an easy, breezy, fun, insightful, and technically informative track. He speaks on, well, name it, and Marshall probably talks about it. This is a rapid-fire, mile-per-minute track. Marshall's ability to speak nonstop and with clarity and entertainment value and technical knowhow all at once is truly amazing. Fans will get the most out of it, but this is one of the most thorough tracks out there. Admirers of high-quality commentary tracks will want to give it a listen.
• Audio Commentary: The Ultimate Tea Party: Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway share traditional High Tea as they discuss the film from all angles. It's nearly as fast and insightful as the Marshall track. The two cover a wide swath of information both film-related and otherwise. Again, a track that comes highly recommended for fans of the film.
• Deleted Scenes (480p, various runtimes): Motormouth, Like a Puppet, Spot Removal, Who is That Pizza Man?, A Secret Place, Egg Slicer, Banana Beach, and News Report. With an introduction from Director Garry Marshall.
• Livin' Like a Princess (480p, 3:27): An animated piece that takes a slightly humorous look at what life was and is like for Princesses.
• Outtakes & Bloopers (480p, 4:20): The same supplement as found on the Blu-ray disc.
• Music Video (480p, 4:18): "Miracles Happen" by Myra.
• Music Video (480p, 3:54): "Supergirl" by Krystal Harris.

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Blu-ray:

• Royal Bloopers (480p, 3:56).

DVD:

• Deleted Scenes (480p, 17:22): The Queen & Maurice, Pear Picking, Welcome to Parliament, Nicholas Cooks, Puppet TV, Parade Prep, King Rupert's Ramp, and The Queen's Nerves. With introductions from Director Garry Marshall.
• Royal Bloopers (480p, 3:55): Same as found on the Blu-ray disc.
• Games & Activities: Find Your Inner Princess (480p): A quiz to help viewers discover their inner Princess.
• Making a Return Engagement (480p, 15:37): Cast and crew discuss the characters and the performances, differences between the Princess Diaries films, set design and shooting locales, the work of Director Garry Marshall, the process of filming various scenes, the picture's music, and more.
• The PD2 Makeover (480p, 11:07): Anna Curtis, Anne Hathaway's stand-in, receives a makeover for the film.
• Music Video (480p, 4:02): "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson.
• Audio Commentary: Julie Andrews and Garry Marshall deliver a light, fun, and informative track that's as much about discussing the plot as it is sharing little secrets and behind-the-scenes tidbits from the making of the movie. The two enjoy good behind-the-microphone chemistry and clearly enjoyed working with one another on this track and on the film. Fans will love this commentary.

The Princess Diaries: 2 Movie Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Princess Diaries and its sequel are best enjoyed by young girls or ladies of any age with a romantic streak and a love for a good fairy tale. The movies pander to their target audiences and don't give the guys much reason to watch, but credit Garry Marshall's double-bill for knowing its audiences and what they want out of a movie. This is everything a live-action Disney Princess Fairy Tale should be. It's got a pretty girl in the lead role, an impossible dream come true, comedy, romance, rich visuals, and a quality array of characters. These movie are well made and nicely acted, but really, they're only for those people who know they love these sorts of movies. Disney's Blu-ray release of The Princess Diaries collection features strong video, quality audio, and lots of supplements which, unfortunately, Blu-ray viewers will have to watch on one of the included two DVDs. Highly recommended for fans, as a gift for mother's day, or a surprise for that special someone in life.