The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Soundtrack (by Various Artists, Soundtrack)

THE PRINCESS DIARIES 2: THE ROYAL ENGAGEMENT begins with the extremely tedious "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson, a get-me-out-of-here song that manages to be simultaneously dull and so emotionally overwrought that it almost sounds like a parody of itself. Next is the repetitive yet pretentious Lindsay Lohan ditty "I Decide," followed by Raven's big yawn of an attempt at a girl-power anthem, "This Is My Time." But by track four, things start looking up with Avril Lavigne's "I Always Get What I Want" followed by Pink's "Trouble." Other high points are Norah Jones' achingly delicate version of "Love Me Tender," an adorable Wilson-Phillips cover of the Beach Boys' "Dance, Dance, Dance," and a Julie Andrews-Raven duet that is wonderful partly for its downright quirkiness and partly because it shows off what this particular grand old broad can do, even after well-publicized throat problems.

Lose the incredibly overrated first three tracks (well performed but so badly written it doesn't matter), and you have a delightful party record that's just plain fun--and better than most soundtrack compilations. Ms. Andrews comes across as a total sweetheart and a total trouper, and it sounds like she's having a blast showing the girls a thing or two.

Released on: August 10, 2004
Label: Disney
Genre: Soundtrack