The first 'A Christmas Prince' was semi-watchable if more one of those on-the-fence sort of films with little particularly special. The second film 'The Royal Wedding' was very mediocre and never more than that, with a few of the same strengths but there are also a few things done worse and a lot of the same flaws amplified. Saw 'The Royal Baby' anyway for completest sake and intrigue as to how it would fare compared to the other two.
'A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby' is nothing special either. Again it is semi-watchable and has its moments, but it is also closer to the mediocre standard of 'The Royal Wedding' and improves on hardly any of the flaws that that film had. There are only two improvements, otherwise the flaws are the same here and they are just as badly done, so a series of three films with the same strengths and flaws to each other.
Starting with 'A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby's' good things, the picturesque scenery is lovely as is the outside and inside of the castle which makes one want to stay there. The photography is neither drab or garish, though finesse is not always a strong suit. The music is a pleasant listen and is infectious.
Rose McIver gives an endearing lead performance and Alice Krige is the picture of elegance and dignity. The best acting again comes from Honor Kneafsey, a bright spot in the other films, who gives a performance beyond her years brings a lot of charm and heart absent elsewhere (something that she brought to her other films, being a high point for example of 2017's 'Crooked House').
Furthermore, there are two improvements here. Ben Lamb is more comfortable and more engaged here. His chemistry with McIver also gels far more and is more discernible.
However, the rest of the characters are little more than caricatures with the film's laudable attempts of being more diverse feeling too much of a hodge-podge. Simon is pointless again, Mr Little is insufferable and the rest of the acting is amateur dramatics pantomime-level.
Once again the script is full of grating cheese passing for humour and mawkish schmaltz. The story is again muddled from trying to cram in too much, a lot of the content being quite tired and some disconnected, very thin and padded in some stretches, is littered with predictability and contrivance and the frequent lapses in continuity and credibility-straining gets on the nerves fast.
In conclusion, mediocre at best. 4/10
'A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby' is nothing special either. Again it is semi-watchable and has its moments, but it is also closer to the mediocre standard of 'The Royal Wedding' and improves on hardly any of the flaws that that film had. There are only two improvements, otherwise the flaws are the same here and they are just as badly done, so a series of three films with the same strengths and flaws to each other.
Starting with 'A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby's' good things, the picturesque scenery is lovely as is the outside and inside of the castle which makes one want to stay there. The photography is neither drab or garish, though finesse is not always a strong suit. The music is a pleasant listen and is infectious.
Rose McIver gives an endearing lead performance and Alice Krige is the picture of elegance and dignity. The best acting again comes from Honor Kneafsey, a bright spot in the other films, who gives a performance beyond her years brings a lot of charm and heart absent elsewhere (something that she brought to her other films, being a high point for example of 2017's 'Crooked House').
Furthermore, there are two improvements here. Ben Lamb is more comfortable and more engaged here. His chemistry with McIver also gels far more and is more discernible.
However, the rest of the characters are little more than caricatures with the film's laudable attempts of being more diverse feeling too much of a hodge-podge. Simon is pointless again, Mr Little is insufferable and the rest of the acting is amateur dramatics pantomime-level.
Once again the script is full of grating cheese passing for humour and mawkish schmaltz. The story is again muddled from trying to cram in too much, a lot of the content being quite tired and some disconnected, very thin and padded in some stretches, is littered with predictability and contrivance and the frequent lapses in continuity and credibility-straining gets on the nerves fast.
In conclusion, mediocre at best. 4/10