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At the Movies: 'Princess Diaries' submitted by: Lisa D. source: Associated Press Date: July 30, 2001 By DAVID GERMAIN, AP Movie Writer A cynical reviewer might say there's an ugly message in "The Princess Diaries'' - that all awkward teens need do to find contentment is get a makeover and wait for a hitherto unknown royal grandmother to come lay a crown on their heads. But this is G-rated Disney, the source of countless Cinderella tales in which no unrealistic expectation goes unfulfilled. So let's give cynicism a rest. Based on Meg Cabot's' novel, "The Princess Diaries'' is as sappy as they come, a Pygmalion story told in Pollyanna terms. But sometimes sappy works, and this is one of those times. Powered by a stately turn from Julie Andrews and a sunny, winsome performance from relative newcomer Anne Hathaway, "The Princess Diaries'' is one to savor for its good humor and big heart, not its hackneyed fairy-tale notions. Director Garry Marshall does let the movie run on longer than it should and allows the action to veer from the princess-in-geek's-clothing premise into lame high school shenanigans that detract from the story. But he recovers the focus in time for the predictable yet convivial conclusion. Hathaway plays Mia Thermopolis, a San Francisco teen-ager who's grown comfortable being an invisible outsider at her school. With her frizzy hair, Brezhnev eyebrows and terror of speaking in public, Mia hangs with fellow geekette Lilly (Heather Matarazzo) on the bottom steps of the popularity pecking order. Then once upon a time, Mia's mom (Caroline Goodall), a freethinking artist who lives in a converted firehouse, tells her daughter that her paternal grandmother's in town for a visit. Turns out Mia's recently deceased father was heir to the throne of the fictitious kingdom of Genovia. And now the job is Mia's, if she'll take up the scepter. "Just in case I'm not enough of a freak already, let's add a tiara!'' whines the reluctant Mia. As Mia's grandmother, Queen Clarisse, Andrews gets to play Henry Higgins to Hathaway's Eliza Doolittle, the role she originated on stage in "My Fair Lady.'' Through "princess lessons,'' the stern yet compassionate Clarisse schools her klutzy heir in the ways of royalty. Mia ultimately must decide between her old, quiet existence and her new public life. (Let's see, wealth, fame and absolute power vs. complete and utter obscurity. Tough call.) The film is aimed at young girls, but schmaltz-tolerant adults of both sexes will find it a decent, harmless piece of entertainment. Andrews is pure class and elegance here. But Hathaway rules the film, creating a teen who's almost too lovable: At times, early on, Mia's so smart and beguiling it's hard to fathom how she could be anything but the most popular girl in school. Even before the royal cosmetologist rids her of bushy hair and brows, Mia clearly is a very attractive young woman. Marshall, who launched Julia Roberts to superstar status with 1990's "Pretty Woman,'' has made another great discovery in Hathaway, neck-and-neck with "Legally Blonde's'' Reese Witherspoon for the title of America's sweetheart for this Hollywood summer. Besides Goodall and Matarazzo, the excellent supporting cast is highlighted by Hector Elizondo as Clarisse's security chief, assigned to watch over Mia. Singer Mandy Moore plays Mia's cheerleading nemesis and sings a song, of course. Robert Schwartzman co-stars as Lilly's brother and Mia's eventual romantic interest, while Sandra Oh wrests some delightful moments out of a bit part as a vice principal. With a lesser cast, this one probably would have been dubbed a pauper in princely clothing. But the fresh, funny interplay among Andrews, Hathaway and the supporting players makes it engaging enough to accept its dreams-come-true dippiness. "The Princess Diaries,'' a Disney release, is rated G. Running time: 114 minutes. Site design by: Dolphin Webpage Designs © 1996-2001