A ROYAL NIGHT OUT - review

A ROYAL NIGHT OUT

Director: Julian Jarrold

Cast: Sarah Gadon, Bel Powley, Rupert Everett, Emily Watson, Jack Raynor

A ROYAL NIGHT OUT comedy laden with mishap and adventure for the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret as they enjoy a night out on the town (ingognito of course) to celebrate VE Day with the rest of the country.

After some convincing the King (Rupert Everett) allows the girls to go out in London, much to the dismay of the Queen (Emily Watson) who promptly organises charperones and a ballroom full of dull old people for them to celebrate with. Young, up-for-anything Margaret (Bel Powley) sneaks out, closely followed by her sister Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) and then all kinds of sheanigans happen, including splashing in the fountain, hanging out in a 'knocking shop' and Elizabeth meeting a young, very handsome AWOL air force pilot.

The King grants the girls a night on the town

This film (like many other royal based films) shows a very fantasized version of the royal life and posits these girls in a ivory tower with a deep desire to know what it's like out there in the world. Rebellious and fun loving Margaret, and Elizabeth caught between a desire for a normal life and the duty she knows she must fulfil at a time in their lives when they should be having fun and learning what life is all about. Things that us commoners might take for granted like knowing how to catch a bus and push our way through a rowdy crowd.

The film is quite amusing at times, but has plenty of eye rolling moments like when Elizabeth declares that her family isn't in the habit of carrying money. The true star of this film in my opinion is Bel Powley who technically has a supporting role, but steals just about every scene with comedic prowess. She knows she's to play second fiddle to her older sister and she makes light of it, declaring herself as 'P2' (princess 2) and using wonderfully old fashioned terms like "I'm so cheesed" and "wizard!" She's enough to make even the die hard republican feel a little something something towards the royals!

Princess Margaret having a splash

The predicatable nature of the script - I mean as if the girls are going to be back before their 1 am curfew - didn't dampen my enjoyment of this lighthearted comedy and you must always remember to take films like this with a grain of salt (preferably served in a margharita). There are probably a few strings of truth in the script, it does claim to be inspired by true events, but remember it is a work of fiction and the screen writers have done a pretty decent job.

The banter between Elizabeth and Jack, the young AWOL soldier she gathers up as her makeswhift body guard-come- tour guide does get a little tiresome, particularly because it takes precious screen time away from Margaret who they are chasing down through the streets of London and her highjinks are much more entertaining! I mean the poor dear ends up in a seedy brothel and seeks help from the owner to get back to the Chelsea Barracks - comedy gold right there people! Don't get me wrong though, I did cop it in the feels a little bit knowing that the blossoming feelings between Jack and Elizabeth would never amount to anything, because Elizabeth knows her place in the world and so does young Jack, but for a brief moment there is a little glimmer of hope and what if. Could you imagine?! What a different world it would have been had Elizabeth run off into the night with a young AWOL soldier?! Good Lord the scandal!

The film wraps up in a very predictable, inoffensive way and everyone goes off to live their lives as if nothing ever happened. I wonder how the real Queen Elizabeth feels about this portrayal of her night out on the town with her sister? I mean they did go out that night, although my understanding is that they never made it past the Ritz and they had over a dozen chaperones, not just two bumbling soldiers. I like the liberties the script writes have taken, particularly with young Margaret (I may have mentioned that I thought she was the start of the show).

The bumbling chaperones that manage to lose and find the Princesses

If you're looking for something lighthearted and fun then give A ROYAL NIGHT OUT a go, but maybe use some movie money or cinema vouchers. I don't necessarily think it's worth the twenty-something dollars.

2.8 out of 5

xoxo
The Blonde Bombshell

TESTAMENT OF YOUTH - review

TESTAMENT OF YOUTH
Director: James Kent
Cast: Alicia Vikander, Kit Harrington, Taron Egerton, Colin Morgan, Emily Watson, Dominic West

TESTAMENT OF YOUTH is the film adaptation of Vera Brittain's memoir and is a tastefully executed film that doesn't quite do the powerful and moving memoir justice. Vera Brittain's story is an incredible journey of a young woman desperate to make something of herself and become a writer whose world is torn apart by the ravages of war. She gives up her hard earned place at Oxford to volunteer as a nurse, loses a friend, her fiance and her brother - a cruel irony given that she convinced her father to let him sign up.

If you haven't read the book and you like to read, I would recommend reading the book over watching the film. The film is fine enough, it tells the story well, but doesn't leave room for the passion and anger that should have been depicted in this film about the horrors of war. Alicia Vikander plays a lovely Vera, but she isn't afforded the time or direction to really let show the breadth and depth of emotion that should have been there.

such a lovely ensemble whose talents were a little wasted

The performances all round were lovely, but everyone seemed slightly reserved. It felt a little like it was just on the peak of the emotional explosion, but for fear of offending people or perhaps a desire to keep it all in good taste director Kent doesn't let it go. Given the sheer talent of this fantastic little ensemble I was disappointed. Vikander has one brief moment at the end of the film where she lets rip on the futility of war, but I wanted more. Kit Harrington (Vera's fiance Roland) comes back from the front on home leave and you can tell he's tormented, but again, apart from one moment where the anguish really shines through, the emotion is a little stiff. Taron Egerton (Vera's brother Edward) and Colin Morgan (Vera's friend Victor) are also both wonderful actors and yet they seem a little lost in this piece. Egerton's relationship with Vikander is natural and loving and they seem as close as siblings can get, but when Edward dies just a short time after Vera saved his life in a 'hospital' at the front she should be madder, and sadder or something. We should have been given more - I felt more, but I didn't get to share that more with the characters.

Vera and Roland on their first real date

I felt like I should have been a sobbing mess during parts of this film, but the emotion was held back just enough that it didn't quite take me there. I had one moment where a few tears fell, but I wasn't the blubbering mess I had prepared myself to be. I could tell the points where Kent wanted to audience to really feel and to open the flood gates, but I wasn't taken there and that's saying something given that I usually cry at the drop of a hat in films!

Overall the film is lovely, well executed, well acted and well directed. There isn't much to fault it on in terms of the quality of the production, however it was a little more reserved that I had been anticipating and to me that was disappointing. With such a powerful and affecting source material, I think there was so much more that could have been acheived in this film. No matter, I'm still glad I went to see it. I think it will sit well with most audiences, and that people who have perhaps not read A TESTAMENT OF YOUTH will enjoy it and will not find fault with the level of emotion in the film as I did.

If you don't mind the odd war film, superb costuming and set design, lovely acting and a hint of romance then I think it's worth spending the 20-something dollars on a ticket for TESTAMENT OF YOUTH. If however you have read the book and have high hopes for this piece, either lower your expectations significantly, or save your dollars and wait for it to come out on DVD.

xoxo
The Blonde Bombshell