Directed By: Matthew Lopez
Screenplay By: Matthew Lopez and Ted Malawer
Cast: Taylor Zakhar Perez; Nicholas Galitzine; Clifton Collins Jr; Sarah Shahi; Rachel Hilson; Stephen Fry; Uma Thurman; Ellie Bamber; Thomas Flynn; Malcolm Atobrah; Akshay Khanna; Sharon D. Clarke; Aneesh Sheth; Juan Castano
Language: English
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Run Time: 2 hours
Red, White & Royal Blue is based on the eponymous bestseller by Casey McQuiston. It is a romantic comedy of enemies into lovers.
On the one hand, we have Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez), the son of the first female American President Ellen Claremont (Uma Thurman) and on the other, Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine) of the English Royal Family. They had met many years ago and did not get along too well due to a misunderstanding. Things continue along in a cold war of sorts till matters come to a point of no return when Alex and Henry bicker at the wedding of Prince Philip (Thomas Flynn), Henry’s older brother. This tiff causes an international incident because they end up toppling the 75000-pound wedding cake.
The White House and the Palace agree that there needs to be some PR damage control done to salvage the situation. They thus force the two to spend time together in public events to spin the story that they are actually great friends.
The time that they spend together, helps them understand each other’s’ worlds, leading to a non-platonic relationship. But is it possible for a Prince of England to reveal his deep affection for a man, especially when he is the First Son of the United States of America?
Red, White & Royal Blue is a fun rom-com but it does seem rather too neat. Like a well-scrubbed, neatly polished narrative. While it doesn’t seem fair to bring in a comparison with the novel, since film adaptations of books are generally rather criticised. But the book has something that the film adapts only in parts – the ordinary and the messy.
Some of the best moments in the film are what seem like run-of-the-mill, unplanned, messy moments that bring the heart into the story. Alex and Henry messaging each other or Alex’s conversation with his mother.
The novel has many of such moments especially with Alex’s sister, a character snipped out of the film, or the complicated elements of his parents’ marriage, even Henry’s relationship with his sister Beatrice (Ellie Bamber). The book acknowledges the imperfections of life and the beauty that comes from it. It is a much more political story and yet is unabashedly a feel-good romantic comedy.
Red, White & Royal Blue is a well-cast film with good performances but it does suffer from being too sanitised. The film tones down the romantic sexual tension that is inherent to the film and necessary to a story of people falling headlong into an enriching romance. It then becomes like a pretty candy bar that was left out too long and is now a little dry.
It is, nevertheless, a fun, enjoyable watch.
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