Proud Princess is a fast-paced, animated romantic movie with adventure and features some twists and turns in the plot. It is a fun way for families to spend 84 minutes.
Princess Carolina (voiced by Georgia Lowe) was once a sweet young girl, devoted to her loving mother. But then her mother died when the princess was still a young girl, and Carolina eventually became egotistical and proud, despite having a nanny (Karen Lewis) who was kind to her.
She is now of marrying age and Maximus (Max Bennet) plots to have her marry Prince Romeo of the Midnight Kingdom, and Maximus would eventually like to see her dead. But King Benjamin, of the Sun Kingdom (voiced by William Attendborough) is a kind man, who helps pay a poor shoemaker’s taxes so he is not imprisoned. The tax collector mentions there are taxes owed by the shoemaker for parking horses, water for the horses, a tax for picking up “gifts” from the horses (manure deposits on the streets), and Benjamin covers that with a bag of gold coins. The kind-hearted king enjoys gardening, and Princess Carolina assumes he is a gardener when she meets him. She is in need of his kindness, as one of the early scenes shows her saying to her servant, “Where is my crown? Find it, woman!” Then she mutters, “Useless servants,” under her breath. Carolina’s small dog, Bijou, fetches the crown and brings it to her.
Her father the king (Steve Hope Wynne) is in need of some renewed compassion as well, as the kingdom does not allow singing and the tax burden on the people is terrible. His advisor, Maximus, is behind much of the burdensome laws.
Featuring heroic royal music and memorable characters, the movie does a good job in revealing the slow changes within Carolina, the proud princess. Although annoyed with Benjamin at first, she begins to be won over by his patience and attitude. When Benjamin first arrives at the kingdom, he is told “No beggars allowed!” He is not allowed to see the princess, but he does spot her playing fetch with Bijou a distance away, and when the ball gets stuck in the gate near him, he grabs it to return it to her, and this is where he meets the princess. She is short with him and walks away at which point an elderly woman speaks to him and tells Benjamin she wasn’t always that way. This woman had been the nanny. Benjamin learns what Carolina’s favorite song is and plans to sing it for her when he can.
As they share time together here and there, Carolina’s heart begins to soften. The film contains both funny and cute scenes, including one scene in which a weasel is stuck in a character’s horn and when he blows it the weasel goes flying across the room! In one of the cute scenes, Benjamin plays a stringed instrument, and a flower blooms, coming powerfully to life and it dances. Carolina loves flowers. In the meantime, King Romeo is stuck on himself and compliments himself. “I’m dashingly good looking,” he says. He becomes upset with Carolina when he realizes she prefers listening to a flower “instead of looking at me!” Later, in a telling scene, Carolina’s flower begins to wilt, and Benjamin tells her it only fades when someone pompous is close by. “How dare you call me pompous?” she explodes. Yet it is these lessons that Benjamin shares that begins to help Carolina head down the right path. Soon she even remembers moments of love, such as when her queen mother kissed her forehead. Before long, Benjamin and Carolina share a kiss.
Soon Benjamin and Carolina must flee, on the run from the evil plot of Maximus. Yet, Benjamin continues to show love toward Carolina, even using a giant leaf to help shade her from the hot sun as they are walking. It won’t be easy, but as they come closer together, their love for each other seems to be enough to overcome any wicked plot cast their way. However, Benjamin will have to share his secret that he is not a gardener but a king.
Content Analysis: Love is a powerful theme in the movie, including a mother’s love for her daughter, and a romantic love that helps the couple overcome a lot of threats and an evil plot. The idea of sacrificial love is nicely displayed onscreen.
Think About It: Discussion points can include how we treat others and to be careful about becoming pompous. The idea of good and evil in the world is also a good discussion topic with several examples in the movie, including the good king Benjamin, and the evil advisor Maximus.
The Dove Take: This magical movie is suitable for all ages, and features exciting adventures, good vs. evil, comedic moments, and a bit of romance as well.
