‘Young Victoria’: Refreshing, entertaining … and great for those who still believe in princess power

BY MIRIAM RINN

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

MOVIE REVIEW

While little girls who love princesses enjoy the latest Disney variation on that theme, big girls who still believe in princess power can waltz over to "Young Victoria," a gorgeous piece of frippery that satisfies the lust for all things brocade. Filmed in one English castle after another, the movie follows the sheltered young princess from a few years before she became Queen Victoria at 18 until several years into her marriage. An assortment of fine British character actors, including a hilarious Jim Broadbent, play the politicians and royals who scheme to control Victoria, but the film's focus is firmly on romance. Any actual events are incidental. The lovely Emily Blunt plays young Princess Victoria with mischievous charm, and a dreamy Rupert Friend portrays Prince Albert, the German cousin who would become her consort. The beautiful princess finds her handsome prince, and the two reign over their kingdom in perfect happiness. What's not to like?

In reality, Victoria had a lonely childhood, dominated by her mother, the Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson), and her mother's advisor, Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong). King William (that's Jim Broadbent in that amazing wig) is furious that Victoria's mother and Conroy have kept Victoria from him, but he manages to hold onto life until she reaches 18 and can become queen. She looks great in all that ermine, but she's still a kid, and Victoria falls under the sway of Lord Melbourne, the Whig prime minister, played with oozy charm by Paul Bettany. Today we'd describe Melbourne as deeply conservative, (the whole duty of government, he said, was "to prevent crime and to preserve contracts.") and he scoffs at Victoria's suggestions that the poor might need help. There's some trouble with the Tory Sir Robert Peel too, and Victoria's popularity dips, resulting in people throwing rocks through the window of the palace. Very unpleasant. Happily, all this political stuff doesn't take much time, and we soon get back to Albert's wooing of the teenage queen.

Blunt and Friend have a natural rapport on screen, and it's easy to believe in their attraction as they play chess under watchful eyes and exchange cozy letters. The screenwriter Julian Fellowes smoothly integrates Albert's interests in progressive causes, and his need to do something productive, and Victoria finally comes across as a spirited young woman who wants and needs a male mentor.

With its fabulous locations and costumes, light historical insights, and top-notch British cast, "Young Victoria" feels like a really good PBS Masterpiece production. And there's nothing wrong with that, especially at this time of year. You deserve a little treat, chick-flick devotees, and this one throws in a bit of education with the romance and the fashion.