The Young Victoria

The beauty of film is that it can take you fully into other worlds through dance, music, settings, and stories. If you enjoy wonderful costumes, beautiful waltzes, and delightful scenes of royalty, you will find Young Victoria entrancing.

This viewer was transported indeed. Emily Blunt glimmered as the young queen, full of spunk, zest, and life. Rupert Friend offered a fine, subtle portrait of the man she married. The last quarter of the movie, which was a moving love story, dazzled.

Politics of the times did not. The writers, no doubt up on British history, assumed that viewers would know each and every politician, subordinate, servant, and count. A lexicon of names and political orientations might have helped.

Another problem was that we never really got to "know" the main characters. Yes, Victoria was sensitive and at times lost. Yes, she had issues with her mother. And yes, she had to be wary of those who would seek her favor for political gain. But do we ever really get inside her mind? Do we really care if/when she struggles as queen?

Grade of B-. This is not a must-see film. If you like Emily Blunt, watch her shine as the bitch in The Devil Wears Prada. If you like British History, read a book, where you'll learn who's who. If you like entertainment, check out the films that we rave about in this blog. The Young Victoria is hard work.