Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bland fairy-tale holiday romance with a royal flourish.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Christmas with a Prince
What's the Story?
In CHRISTMAS WITH A PRINCE, Tash (Kaitlyn Leeb) is a wildly attractive pediatric oncologist running a hospital ward. She and her nurse brother Jeff (Josh Dean) went to boarding school years back with Prince Alexander (Nick Hounslow). When the prince, with a reputation as an irresponsible, charming playboy, injures his leg skiing, he asks Jeff if he can convalesce hidden in Tash's pediatric ward to avoid publicity, even though Alexander has already posted his accident on social media. As a teen, Tash had asked Alexander out and he refused her. She harbors a crush, but also anger and resentment, and doesn't want the spoiled royal taking up space in her children's ward. This of course leads to romance. Self-absorbed Alexander learns to be generous to the kids. He begins to learn compassion, which impresses Tash and his father, the king (Charles Shaughnessy). Tash's resentment falls away but now she must cope with Alexander's snooty friends and social set. Can they find a way to make it work? Stay tuned.
Is It Any Good?
Like the rest of an entire genre of Christmas movies focused on commoners finding holiday love with royalty, Christmas with a Prince is a simple-minded, holiday-themed romance. Chief among its traits is an utter obliviousness to anything resembling real life, but nonjudgmental tweens who enjoy this kind of thing may find it enjoyable. The acting is pedestrian, and one has a sense that casting was more about finding people with great teeth than with artistic skill.
Plot-wise, it will sound like quibbling to mention that if Alexander truly wanted a private convalescence surely his daddy the king could've had him helicoptered to their castle, or at least some posh private facility. Finally, where does this take place? Is Alex a prince in one country, having a ski accident in another? Accents range from American to Canadian to Russian to English, confusing us further. Reality just doesn't enter into this picture. Even the cancer ward for sick kids provides only the joys of children on Christmas and none of the pain one might expect from such a setting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this movie seems like a fairy tale. What are the fairy tale clichés used here?
Does this movie express sentiments that we like to think about during holiday time? What are some of those sentiments?
Why is it sometimes fun to watch movies that oversimplify the problems of life?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 27, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : November 1, 2020
- Cast : Kaitlyn Leeb , Nick Hounslow , Josh Dean , Charles Shaughnessry
- Director : Justin G. Dyck
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Romance
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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