Der Prinz & ich

The title itself suggests that the viewer should be prepared for a fairy tale-like journey. And it's not far from the truth. You shouldn't expect anything groundbreaking from the modernized and rejuvenated version of the classic scheme like Coming to America and the more developed variation of The Princess Diaries. However, if you tune in to the right (preferably pleasantly romantic) tone, there's a guarantee that you’ll pleasantly enjoy the ninety minutes. At least that's how I felt all the time, because how else can I explain the fact that I don't feel like going through the "this was wrong and that was wrong" situations? But I definitely do feel like pointing out what was good about the film. The most important, most impressive, and clearly the best element of the film is undoubtedly Julia Stiles. I finally got a chance to see her in a different capacity other than as a member of the "bad guys" team from (so far) both episodes about ex-agent Jason Bourne. Stiles delivers an absolutely fantastic performance. I watched with a satisfied (and sometimes almost amazed) smile as she effortlessly portrayed emotions, a diligent student, or a member of the royal court. The Prince & Me is exactly the kind of film that entertains in a non-violent way and then fades away slowly with a good feeling that it didn't offend. Do not interpret the three stars as an average film rating but as an above-average rating representing the film's genre. (31.07.2005)