By Shaun Szkolnik
For The Tribune
- The Princess Switch
- Year released: 2018
- Directed by: Mike Rohl
- Written by: Robin Bernheim, Megan Metzger
- Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Nick Segar, Alexa Adeosun, Sam Palladio
- Classification: TV-PG
- Rating: B
Had Netflix staid in their lane there is a good likelihood that Blockbuster would still be in business; but they didn’t. Netflix took an existing demand, found a novel way to serve it and changed the world in the process. Netflix’ latest move is nowhere near as revolutionary, but it is not at all unfamiliar. Netflix is taking on territory long ago staked out by the Hallmark Channel and, this season, will be releasing four feel-good, comfy, cozy, lighter-than- air Christmas movies. The second of these films, released on Friday, is the Princess Switch. Lovers of the form will not be disappointed.
The Princess Switch is a story exactly as old as Mark Twain’s the Prince and the Pauper. With these things, however, the plot is never really important. What is important is that a stage is set for likeable characters to do likeable things until a mild conflict is introduced and an, equally as mild, solution sets all to right once more. Having dabbled with the formula a couple of times over the last few years Netflix knows exactly what they’re doing.
In this version a young and lonely baker from Chicago travels to Belgravia for a baking competition and, of course, she is accompanied by her best friend, whom happens to be a perfectly nice guy that is not entirely suited to her tastes, and his adorable daughter. Along the way she runs into the Duchess of Montenaro. The Duchess looks exactly like her and, almost as importantly, is a bit nonplussed because she is set to marry a perfectly nice guy that is not entirely suited to her tastes. A proposal is made, a switch is performed and everything unfolds just exactly as you know it will.
What works about the Princess Switch is the cast. Vanessa Hudgens, Nick Sagar, Alexa Adeosun and Sam Palladio approach the material without a hint of cynicism, they’re believers and they’ll make believers of you as well . Each of these actors is invested in their characters and in the story. They each turn in a performance that is fun, whimsical and winning; in other words, they do exactly what should be done if a Hallmark type is going to work. Although, if Netflix keeps up the good work, there may come a time when we no longer associate this type of movie with Hallmark at all.