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'Princess Diaries' Is Cute, But Half An Hour Too Long submitted by: Lisa D. source: The Daily News of Los Angeles Date: August 3, 2001 By Glenn Whipp, Film Critic If you're of a particular vintage, there's something eminently agreeable about seeing Julie Andrews acting with her trademark grace and warmth in a G-rated movie, even if the film is as forgettable as Garry Marshall's "The Princess Diaries." This is Andrews' first major film since making a string of adult comedies with husband Blake Edwards in the 1980s, and she doesn't curse, act out or flash her breasts. For anyone who prefers to remember the actress as Mary Poppins or the singing nun from "The Sound of Music," that's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious news. In "The Princess Diaries," Andrews plays the queen of the principality of Genovia, who has come to San Francisco to convince her 15-year-old granddaughter, Mia (newcomer Anne Hathaway), to become heir to the throne. Up to this point, Mia had no idea she bled royal blood, and the news isn't exactly welcome. Mia is gawky and clumsy, the kind of girl classmates tend to regard as invisible. Princess lessons are sorely needed. The question is: Does a painfully shy girl really want all the attention that royalty receives? The movie is heavily geared toward preteen girls who will buy easily into princess fantasies. There are fabulous makeovers and cute boys, dorky best friends and Mustang convertibles, first kisses and friendly cats, not to mention pop singer Mandy Moore, who plays Mia's stuck-up tormentor. There's no profanity, no sex and no believable situations - par for the course for a movie that's a distant cousin of director Marshall's "Pretty Woman." It would all be agreeable enough if Marshall didn't drag things out, making what should be a 90-minute Disney movie into a two-hour affair that keeps getting sidetracked with needless subplots. That's a lot of time to spend with a movie whose outcome is as preordained as Mia's royal succession. "THE PRINCESS DIARIES" (Rated G) The stars: Julie Andrews, Anne Hathaway, Mandy Moore, Hector Elizondo. Behind the scenes: Directed by Garry Marshall. Screenplay by Gina Wendkos, based on the novel by Meg Cabot. Released by Walt Disney Pictures. Running time: One hour, 55 minutes. Playing: Citywide. Our rating: Two and one half stars Site design by: Dolphin Webpage Designs © 1996-2001