Dec 11

Dec 11 A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby

Everyone’s favorite Aldovian royal couple is expecting! But before the blessed baby arrives, Queen Amber and her palace posse must get to the bottom of a regal riddle that threatens the throne with war and woe. Can she solve this Christmas caper in time to help her heir and save the season…or will calamity befall the crown?

A+Christmas+Prince+Royal+Baby.jpg — Christmas clichés:

Opens w/ City Scene
Sleigh Ride
Deceased Parent
They Play Piano!
Carolers
Ice Skating Scene

Our Thoughts

As the Netflix description and movie characters proclaim, “No one does Christmas like the Aldovians.” You could say that’s why “A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby” made our list of anticipated 2019 premieres. Well, that, or our 2-year investment in these characters.

For those new to the “A Christmas Prince” franchise, heed our warning: This third installment can’t stand alone. You’re given little context on the mass of characters in the snowed-in, Agatha Christie-type plot, and we doubt you’ll find joy in the details only a devoted fan will notice. “Leopold was here.” Classic.

Journalist-turned-blogger, Queen Amber (Rose McIver, the worst hair yet) is making changes to the now economically booming Aldovia. No one puts Queen Amber in the corner! Her subjects love her brand of modern feminism…oh, and King Richard (Ben Lamb, going with the flow), but what they care most about is the name of the soon-to-be-heir.

The royals’ last act before baby is welcoming the Penglian King and Queen to renew the 600-year-old Christmas Eve treaty; if it’s not signed, their kingdoms fall back into a state of war, and the offending family will have a cursed first born. But that would never happen…

Not so fast! Snow falls the night before the signing and traps all visitors, staff, and Amber’s sassy friends inside the castle. And when it’s time for the treaty signing the next morning, the treaty’s gone missing! Zooming camera close-ups and buh-bum-BAH music tells you someone’s a thief (and this movie’s going full-on camp).

It’s hard to critique a Christmas movie that watches almost like satire. The expressions are loud, the plot lines ridiculous, some acting’s questionable, and the ancient curse bothers logical Queen Amber far more than it should. Does no one care about character development anymore?

The quality is also questionable. Amber’s baby shower and the Aldovian Christmas Market appear to be decorated by Party City, so we’re not sure if they’re working off a smaller budget than usual. The other option is they spent far too much on the heroic scene where King Richard, on his horse, saves Amber’s trapped obstetrician by galloping down the side of a mountain. (If that was the case, the scene was worth it.)

An unexpected silver lining for our household: Amber’s recast father, Rudy, was only in a handful of scenes! No more Jar Jar Binks distractions. Big improvement from the second flick.

If you’re looking for a traditional Christmas flick or any of the seasonal feels, this one’s not for you. Add it to your watchlist only if you want an antidote to sappier options and you need a Cousin Simon fix.

Rob's Final Take: Merry
Let’s be honest- if you made it through movies #1 and #2, you’re going to watch this one and you’re going to have some giddy fun. Everyone else can stay away.

Jess's Final Take: Merry
Oh, it’s terrible. But this three-quel is actually “So Bad, It’s Good,” unlike its prequel. The Top the Tree game was adorable!