August 14, 2023
FILM: RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE
DIRECTED BY: MATTHEW LOPEZ
STARRING: TAYLOR ZAKHAR PEREZ, NICHOLAS GALITZINE, UMA THURMAN
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Red, White & Royal Blue is the kind of film that could have gone awfully wrong but manages to become a bit original with some 21st Century idealism. It stars Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the U.S. President, played by Uma Thurman. On the other side of the pond is Prince Henry, played by Nicholas Galitzine. He’s not directly in line to become King but his brother Philip is and the traditions of England’s royalty are still embraced by most of the public. This is a very woke version of reality as the Prime Minister is also a Black woman. The plot though hinges on a relationship that forms between gay Henry and bi Alex. Will it create an international incident?!
Well, not so fast. The film begins as a very traditional romantic comedy with both main characters at odds with each other. Alex is portrayed as a bro-dude who is very laid back and unpolished. Henry is more uptight…at least at first. The first quarter of the film is filled with silly Hallmark/Lifetime rom com conventions including one particularly ridiculous wedding cake scene that would have been right at place in a Tracy/Hepburn or Streisand/O’Neal comedy. (If you don’t know who they are, look them up NOW!) Then the lads get to know each other better and, through text messaging and a few meet-ups, fall in love. The scenes are pretty fast paced and this section of the film has a young trendy vibe to it.
Then the tone changes a bit as the reality of their situation sets in. Alex becomes focused on his mother’s re-election campaign where Texas, her home state, may be turning blue. (It’s pretty obvious that the First Family is Democratic.) Meanwhile Henry must contend with his royal lineage and the expectations that his life will follow with its traditions. It’s here that the film moves away from the silliness and actually becomes about something. In part, there’s the Crown vs. American politics angle. Can they coincide and exist together? But, the more significant question explored is whether it is possible to change the traditions of a culture. Can we accept the evolution that comes with a more progressive era? (There isn’t any hint of the big divide that currently is part of American society.)
I’d have liked to see some of these ideas explored more deeply though. There are moments after this narrative shift when it appears Alex has suddenly forgotten his political ambitions and Henry might not be as ready for change as we’d hope. As such, the emotional tones of the narrative also tend to transition somewhat abruptly.
It’s hard not to see the clear allusion to the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle controversies here that shook up the Royal Family in recent years. Harry gave up royal life to be with Meghan. Will Prince Henry do the same? Interestingly, Markle is of mixed race and the casting here is decidedly filled with actors that also come from different heritages. (Taylor Zakhar-Perez is of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Mexican descent. Sarah Shahi who plays Zahara Bankston, the Deputy Chief of Staff for President Claremont, is of Spanish-Iranian heritage.) Ultimately, the actors do all they can with the parts they are given. Zakhar-Perez (also known for the series Minx and The Kissing Booth films) is very attractive and frequently shot with lake and rain water glistening his finely chiseled featured. Galitzine as Henry is perhaps less traditionally good-looking but his contrasting physical features work well with those of Zakhar-Perez and he plays the line between British Royalty and a love swept gay man very convincingly. It’s a bit startling to see Uma Thurman as U.S. President. She sports a Texas accent which at times feels a bit forced and some of her non-verbals come across as a bit stilted. However, she has some good scenes with Zakhar-Perez which suggest a nice blend of power and warmth.
The film doesn’t do a lot that we haven’t seen before. It definitely feels right on a streaming network which has other series that reflect a similar tone and contemporary vibe. However, it does present a couple of interesting ideas, the cast is appealing and attractive, and many people will feel a certain tingle at the connection that develops between the two main characters. It’s a bit of a modern fairy tale that will no doubt lead to some satisfied audiences and at least one sequel.
Red, White and Royal Blue is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
FILM: RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE
DIRECTED BY: MATTHEW LOPEZ
STARRING: TAYLOR ZAKHAR PEREZ, NICHOLAS GALITZINE, UMA THURMAN
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Red, White & Royal Blue is the kind of film that could have gone awfully wrong but manages to become a bit original with some 21st Century idealism. It stars Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the U.S. President, played by Uma Thurman. On the other side of the pond is Prince Henry, played by Nicholas Galitzine. He’s not directly in line to become King but his brother Philip is and the traditions of England’s royalty are still embraced by most of the public. This is a very woke version of reality as the Prime Minister is also a Black woman. The plot though hinges on a relationship that forms between gay Henry and bi Alex. Will it create an international incident?!
Well, not so fast. The film begins as a very traditional romantic comedy with both main characters at odds with each other. Alex is portrayed as a bro-dude who is very laid back and unpolished. Henry is more uptight…at least at first. The first quarter of the film is filled with silly Hallmark/Lifetime rom com conventions including one particularly ridiculous wedding cake scene that would have been right at place in a Tracy/Hepburn or Streisand/O’Neal comedy. (If you don’t know who they are, look them up NOW!) Then the lads get to know each other better and, through text messaging and a few meet-ups, fall in love. The scenes are pretty fast paced and this section of the film has a young trendy vibe to it.
Then the tone changes a bit as the reality of their situation sets in. Alex becomes focused on his mother’s re-election campaign where Texas, her home state, may be turning blue. (It’s pretty obvious that the First Family is Democratic.) Meanwhile Henry must contend with his royal lineage and the expectations that his life will follow with its traditions. It’s here that the film moves away from the silliness and actually becomes about something. In part, there’s the Crown vs. American politics angle. Can they coincide and exist together? But, the more significant question explored is whether it is possible to change the traditions of a culture. Can we accept the evolution that comes with a more progressive era? (There isn’t any hint of the big divide that currently is part of American society.)
I’d have liked to see some of these ideas explored more deeply though. There are moments after this narrative shift when it appears Alex has suddenly forgotten his political ambitions and Henry might not be as ready for change as we’d hope. As such, the emotional tones of the narrative also tend to transition somewhat abruptly.
It’s hard not to see the clear allusion to the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle controversies here that shook up the Royal Family in recent years. Harry gave up royal life to be with Meghan. Will Prince Henry do the same? Interestingly, Markle is of mixed race and the casting here is decidedly filled with actors that also come from different heritages. (Taylor Zakhar-Perez is of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Mexican descent. Sarah Shahi who plays Zahara Bankston, the Deputy Chief of Staff for President Claremont, is of Spanish-Iranian heritage.) Ultimately, the actors do all they can with the parts they are given. Zakhar-Perez (also known for the series Minx and The Kissing Booth films) is very attractive and frequently shot with lake and rain water glistening his finely chiseled featured. Galitzine as Henry is perhaps less traditionally good-looking but his contrasting physical features work well with those of Zakhar-Perez and he plays the line between British Royalty and a love swept gay man very convincingly. It’s a bit startling to see Uma Thurman as U.S. President. She sports a Texas accent which at times feels a bit forced and some of her non-verbals come across as a bit stilted. However, she has some good scenes with Zakhar-Perez which suggest a nice blend of power and warmth.
The film doesn’t do a lot that we haven’t seen before. It definitely feels right on a streaming network which has other series that reflect a similar tone and contemporary vibe. However, it does present a couple of interesting ideas, the cast is appealing and attractive, and many people will feel a certain tingle at the connection that develops between the two main characters. It’s a bit of a modern fairy tale that will no doubt lead to some satisfied audiences and at least one sequel.
Red, White and Royal Blue is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.