"The Princess Diaries"-- A Film Fit for Royalty

Rated G movies almost seem extinct. Even animated feature films like 'Atlantis' and kids-geared films like 'Cats and Dogs' seem to have a PG-rating slapped on them these days. Those in the business almost see a G-rating as the kiss of death since so few G-rated films come out each year, and those that do never seem to stick around for long (anyone remember 'The Trumpet of the Swan?'). However, Disney-- the studio that used to make G-rated pictures cool-- is once again trying to make G-rated films a treat for everyone with their delightful live-action fairy tale 'The Princess Diaries.'

The film focuses Mia (Anne Hathaway), a fifteen-year-old outcast who discovers that she is the sole heir to the throne of Genovia after her long-lost father's sudden death. When her grandmother (Julie Andrews) comes to the States to teach Mia how to be the princess she truly is, Mia finds herself trapped between a world where she was invisible and one where she'll forever be in the spotlight.

Director Garry Marshall ('Pretty Woman') manages to find a movie star in relative newcomer Hathaway the same way he did with Julia Roberts. The similarities between the two actresses are uncanny-- both are extremely talented, gorgeous and can play both sides of the Cinderella story to a tee.

Hathaway and the modern day Cinderella story aren't the only similarities 'The Princess Diaries' has with 'Pretty Woman,' either. The teaming of Hathaway and Andrews is as perfect as the pairing of Roberts and Richard Gere. Their chemistry comes across loud and clear to viewers, making it easy to believe that these two are an estranged grandmother and granddaughter. For as different as the two are, there is just something honest and caring about their actions towards each other that only family could share.

While Marshall and his casting decisions deserve most of the credit for what makes 'The Princess Diaries' one of the best family films to come around in years, screenwriter Gina Wendkos deserves the rest. Wendkos writes the perfect family film that both adults and kids will enjoy without ever stooping to a level of humor that will go over adults' heads. 'The Princess Diaries' features no gross-out humor, no fart jokes-- nothing offensive at all. Furthermore, it also features none of the adult-targeted humor most Disney family films try to include to entertain the older members of the audience. 'The Princess Diaries' simply focuses on humorous, innocent situations people of all ages can understand and people of all ages will be entertained by.

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