Director: Garry Marshall
Writer: Gina Wendkos (based on the novel The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot)
Stars: Julie Andrews, Anne Hathaway, Héctor Elizondo
Synopsis: Outcast high school student Mia Thermopolis has her life turned upside down when her long absent grandmother, Clarisse Renaldi, the Queen regent of the small European kingdom of Genovia arrives in her hometown of San Francisco, California. Mia learns she is the sole heir to the Genovian throne following the death of her father, and agrees to take part in princess lessons from Clarisse before deciding if she wants to continue being a normal teenager or become royalty.
It seems like yesterday that I was six years old and seeing The Princess Diaries for the very first time with my mom. Somehow though, it has been 25 years since that little boy had his world forever changed by Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway. The film, along with Shrek, which was released earlier that same year, became one of my biggest hyperfixations. I didn’t care that it was “for girls,” because I saw myself in Hathaway’s nerdy outcast Mia Thermopolis, and threw myself into author Meg Cabot’s novel series which was the source material for writer Gina Wendkos and director Garry Marshall’s film.
While it shocked me that Wendkos had taken liberties with Cabot’s books, she remained true to who Mia was, which naturally mattered more than anything else. Wendkos kept Mia’s shyness and down-to-earth attitude along with her sarcasm, then has her grow more self assured as she spends time learning how to be a princess with her grandmother, Clarisse Renaldi, the Queen regent of the small European kingdom of Genovia (Andrews).
In both the film and novel, Mia also grapples with the weight of being a teenager and now suddenly heir to the throne of this country she knows nothing about. Wendkos and Garry Marshall depict this with such care rather than making it seem like Mia is being dramatic. They don’t talk down to their audience, understanding that being a teen can be hard enough even if you don’t have an estranged grandparent dropping in to tell you that the future of their entire kingdom rests on your shoulders.
That’s part of what makes The Princess Diaries so relatable. We don’t all have to choose between being a teenager and a princess, but regardless of age and gender, we’ve all had to discover who we are while wrestling with our identities along the way. No wonder Mia connected with my six-year-old self so much, I had no idea who I was and was being dragged to things I didn’t want to do all the time.
It also helps that this cast is fully committed to what is admittedly a rather silly premise. Hathaway, who was a teenager when she was cast, shines as Mia Thermopolis. She brings tons of charm to this role and believably portrays every part of a young girl dealing with the chaos of being a teen before Clarisse even drops the princess bomb on her. Watching Mia evolve is a hilarious, heartwarming treat because in spite of her newfound beauty, Hathaway never fully lets go of the traits that make Mia unique, even though that’s what Clarisse hoped to tone down by putting her granddaughter through princess training.
There’s something so special about seeing someone go through everything Mia does and coming out on the other side with her personality intact before making the choice between claiming or renouncing her title. So many adults try to force things on their children and grandchildren, but The Princess Diaries is a piece of media that shows they’d be better off and perhaps even have stronger relationships if they just let them figure out what they want out of life while helping them along the way.
That’s a lesson that Clarisse has to learn during this film. At first, she’s stubborn and set on Mia being heir, but the two come to a compromise and make an effort to get to know each other as Clarisse teaches Mia how to be a princess. Julie Andrews was truly the perfect choice for this role because she balances being hardened and warm with ease, while also serving as a familiar face for audiences opposite an unknown Anne Hathaway in her film debut. As I got older, I realized how much of Clarisse I saw in my own Granma, and that just makes this film so much more meaningful. My Granma might not always be prim and proper in the same vein, but like Clarisse, she’d do anything for me and has always encouraged me to be myself while teaching me different things.
For all its drama and relatability, The Princess Diaries is also just a funny film. Andrews and Hathaway have terrific chemistry and will make you laugh throughout. Then there’s Garry Marshall film regular Héctor Elizondo as royal bodyguard Joe, who starts off as no nonsense, but lets his guard down in unexpected ways. This is the role that helped Elizondo go from being “that guy” to an actor I’m always happy to see elsewhere. Memorable side characters like Joe help this world feel more alive while also providing comedic relief. So much of Wendkos’ script remains quotable to this very day which isn’t always the case when it comes to older comedies. I can still recite almost every line like it’s nothing, especially the scene where Clarisse tells Mia that she’s a princess. I’m certain that I’m not alone in that regard.
Even though I’ve got a better idea of who I am and what I want to do these days, I still see myself in Mia because I’m just as awkward as I am confident. Plus, there’s as much pressure being an adult as there is in being a teenager, despite some movies and shows making it look like a breeze. Some days I really do wish a mysterious relative will show up and say I have to rule some random place I’ve never heard of because that feels like it’d be easier. I’m still here though, powering through with the help of family and friends, and hoping to make the world a better place just like Amelia “Mia” Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, Princess of Genovia.
The Princess Diaries still rules all these years later thanks to Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway. It’s a perfect example of remaining true to the source material while making it your own with thoughtful characterizations, a solid plot, and legendary lines which are then paired with unforgettable performances.
