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The Princess Switch
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Wikipedia article
'The Princess Switch' is a 2018 American Christmas romantic comedy film directed by Mike Rohl from a screenplay by Robin Bernheim and Megan Metzger. The film stars Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio and Nick Sagar.
The film's concept of two people who look identical running into one another and switching places comes from Mark Twain's 1881 novel 'The Prince and the Pauper'.
It was released on November 16, 2018, by Netflix. It was followed by a sequel, 'The Princess Switch: Switched Again', which premiered on November 19, 2020, and 'The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star', which premiered on November 18, 2021.
Plot
Stacy De Novo is a talented baker who runs a successful pastry shop in Chicago with her lifelong friend Kevin. His daughter Olivia is a precocious young girl who enjoys ballet dancing and looks up to Stacy as a maternal figure. Stacy has recently become single.
A week before Christmas, Kevin tells Stacy their entry in a prestigious baking competition in the Kingdom of Belgravia was accepted. Initially reluctant to attend as Christmas reminds her of ex-boyfriend Paul, Stacy runs into him with a new girlfriend. She agrees to go to Belgravia with Kevin and Olivia after a kind man on the street tells her Christmas wishes can come true.
Arriving in Belgravia, they go sightseeing, meeting a Christmas stocking seller who looks very similar to the kind man Stacy met in Chicago. He suggests living more spontaneously. After settling in, Stacy and Kevin go to the studio where the competition will be held. There, Stacy meets her former culinary classmate and rival Brianna, the defending champion. Brianna spills coffee on Stacy's apron, forcing her to get a new one.
On her way to the powder room, Stacy runs into Lady Margaret Delacourt, Duchess of Montenaro and fiance of Crown Prince Edward of Belgravia, and they are struck by their identical looks. Desperate for time out of the spotlight, Margaret suggests that they switch places for two days, then switch back before the competition and Margaret and Edward's wedding. Initially reluctant, Stacy eventually accepts, especially when Lady Margaret agrees to sponsor Olivia as a student in Belgravia's acclaimed summer ballet program.
Stacy and Margaret quickly teach each other about their lives, behavior and quirks to minimize suspicion, and part ways. Olivia quickly discovers the switch but helps keep the secret while bonding with Margaret. Meanwhile, Prince Edward who was supposed to be away on business for the two days of the switch changes his plans to spend time with his fiance, sending Stacy into a panic. King George senses something is afoot, tasking his butler, Frank, to watch her. Stacy adapts to court life and begins falling in love with Prince Edward, while Margaret falls in love with Kevin and realizes that she loves living a normal life. Despite this, they switch back as planned. Meanwhile, Brianna sneaks into the TV station one night and sabotages Stacy's mixer.
Frank photographs Margaret and Stacy together, and shows that they swapped identities to the Queen. She encounters the same kind man, who thinks Stacy looks like a princess despite her common status. The Queen then fakes illness to send Edward and Margaret to attend the competition in her place.
At the competition, Stacy discovers Brianna's vandalism, which forces her to mix her ingredients by hand. Despite the setback, Stacy and Kevin complete their cake and win first prize, with medals presented by Lady Margaret and Prince Edward. Stacy tries to avoid the medal presentation, and Kevin unaware of the switch insists that she accepts. Margaret and Stacy reveal their plot to the two men. Margaret professes her love for Kevin, while Stacy walks away, feeling out of place in Edward's royal life. Edward stops Stacy and says he is in love with her. He proposes, suggesting a Christmas wedding in a year if they are still in love.
One year later, Stacy marries Prince Edward and becomes Princess of Belgravia, and both couples (and Olivia) celebrate at the wedding. Margaret catches the bouquet, while Kevin asks her what she's doing for New Year's. When Margaret states that she has no plans, Kevin replies, You might want to hang on to that [bouquet]," insinuating he plans to marry her.
Cast
* Vanessa Hudgens as
** Stacy De Novo, a baker from Chicago who eventually becomes Princess of Belgravia and Edward's wife
** Lady Margaret Delacourt, Duchess of Montenaro
* Sam Palladio as Edward Wyndham, Prince of Belgravia
* Nick Sagar as Kevin Richards, Stacy's best friend and Olivia's father
* Alexa Adeosun as Olivia Richards, Kevin's daughter
* Mark Fleischmann as Frank De Luca, Prince Edward's driver
* Suanne Braun as Mrs. Donatelli, Duchess Margret's personal assistant
* Sara Stewart as Queen Caroline Wyndham, Prince Edward's mother and Queen of Belgravia
* Pavel Douglas as King George Wyndham, Prince Edward's father and King of Belgravia
* Amy Griffiths as Brianna Michaels, Stacy's baking rival
* Robin Soans as Kindly Old Man
Production
In June 2018, it was reported that Vanessa Hudgens and Sam Palladio would star in the Netflix film 'The Princess Switch'.
Principal photography ended in June 2018. The majority of the film was shot in Carei, Romania. The palace sequence was shot in Krolyi Castle, Carei Romania.
Release
It was released on November 16, 2018, by Netflix.
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of with an average rating of , based on reviews. The website's critics consensus reads: "The Princess Switch offers a healthy dose of charming, light-hearted, twin-swap fun and is delightful viewing for any hopeless romantic."
Linda Holmes of NPR praised the movie's acting and called it a "pleasingly frothy and ridiculous", while criticizing unrealistic aspects of the plot.
Sequels
A sequel 'The Princess Switch: Switched Again', was released on November 19, 2020. Vanessa Hudgens took on another role as a third lookalike as well as served as a producer.
The next of its sequel 'The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star', was released on November 18, 2021. Vanessa Hudgens played three lookalikes as well as served as a producer.
References
Buy The Princess Switch now from Amazon
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