A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding Synopsis: A year after helping Richard get to the throne, Amber is about to become his wife. But is she really made to be queen?
A year after the events of A Christmas Prince, Amber (Rose McIver) is ready to move across the pond and marry King Richard (Ben Lamb). She brings her father Rudy (John Guerrasio) and awaits the arrival of her (two?) friends from her former job. Unfortunately, things don’t go as smoothly as Amber had hoped.
Richard is extremely busy as King, so there is little time for the two to spend together. Her wedding planner, Sahil, wants extravagance, whereas most of Amber’s thoughts and desires for her wedding are ignored. Worst of all, stingy Mrs. Averill is doing her best to censor Amber, believing a Queen’s place is seen and rarely if ever, heard.
There is also a plot about some new Aldovia initiative plan to help the economy or something, but the money coming in is disappearing. So, workers aren’t being paid, and the heat is on Richard to find out why. Only he’s not interested in finding out where the money is going, no matter how often Amber, a reporter, suggests getting to the bottom of it. Cue Simon’s (Theo Devaney) arrival and an old consultant and friend of the former king, Lord Leopold Plumtree (Simon Dutton).
The Royal Wedding is less about Amber and Richard’s upcoming nuptials and more about Amber trying to adjust to royal life and what’s expected of her. She seems very taken aback by the stricter guidelines, which I find odd because she and Richard have been engaged for a year… have they not discussed royal protocol with Amber? They also start planning the wedding the week of… which I found odd.
I was also not impressed with the recasting of Amber’s father. In the first movie, he’s played by Daniel Fathers. Rudy is pretty chill, owns a diner, and is incredibly supportive of his daughter. In The Royal Wedding, Rudy is portrayed by John Guerrasio, the epitome of a loud New Yorker, accent and everything. At one point, I expected him to yell, “Badda bing!”.
I was not a fan of the recasting… or if they had to recast, don’t change his character into an obnoxious stereotype. Speaking of stereotypes, is it just a given that in this rom-com, the only two gay men in the entire movie will find something small in common and then gaze adoringly into each other’s eyes, hinting at an instant romance?
Anyway! There were aspects of A Christmas Prince that I enjoyed well enough, but I found it hard to find those moments in the sequel. A lot is happening, but there is very little romance until the wedding. Once again, Amber saves the day, which makes me think she probably ought to be running the tiny country instead of Richard, who did very little in this movie other than blowing off his fiance to brood. I just wasn’t that thrilled with this installment of the trilogy. Cousin Simon might have been my favorite part… along with Princess Emily’s insults to him. And for that, I will award this movie 1 star!
Watched: 12/15/2020
Notable Song: Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel
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