THE PRINCESS DIARIES 2: ROYAL ENGAGEMENT
I’ve been on a 2000s coming-of-age dramedy kick lately, consisting mostly of rewatches (but also CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH, of course). When I’m tired and stressed and a little bit bummed out, nothing soothes like Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. I started out with THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, then followed the Meryl train to JULIE AND JULIA, thought “hmm, maybe Amy Adams next?” and started ARRIVAL, but it wasn’t the vibe for that night (though I do love that movie). I pivoted back to Anne Hathaway and ended up watching THE PRINCESS DIARIES 2: ROYAL ENGAGEMENT (trailer here).
I love coming back to movies like this as an adult, both for the nostalgia and for the surprising details that stick out upon second (dozenth) viewing. The dated plane CGI. The dirty jokes I totally missed as a kid. The fact that it was written by SHONDA FREAKING RHIMES (no wonder it holds up). The first PRINCESS DIARIES is a masterpiece in its own right, but the sequel will always be my favorite—in part because of the completely gratuitous but tonally vital 10-minute-long sleepover scene in which Julie Andrews does her own mattress-surfing stunts. But also because in trying to find her place in the world as a clumsy, impulsive, frizzy-haired 20-something, Mia is a reminder that you don't have to do it alone, you don't have to have it all figured out, and you don't need a husband to be Queen of Genovia.
—Carrie Smith, Executive Assistant
