91. The Princess Diaries

Title: The Princess Diaries
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Year: 2001, 2004

Summary:

The Princess Diaries (2001): Mia Thermopolis is a fifteen-year-old tenth grade private school student who lives with her mother Helen Thermopolis and her cat, Fat Louie, in a renovated San Francisco firehouse. Her father, Philippe Renaldi (who had divorced her mother years ago but still kept in touch with Mia) died two months earlier in a car crash. Although Mia is an average student, she is very unpopular, but has two good friends: Lilly Moscovitz and Lilly's brother Michael Moscovitz.

Shortly before Mia's sixteenth birthday, she learns her paternal grandmother is visiting from Genovia, a small European country. Mia meets her grandmother, Clarisse Renaldi, at the Genovian consulate for the first time in her life. Clarisse explains that the reason she wanted to see her was because of a "life-changing" problem. Mia learns that her father was the crown prince of Genovia and, due to his death, she is now the next in line and the only heir to the Genovian throne. She is shocked to learn that she is a princess and at first rejects the whole idea.

Mia's mother and grandmother convince her to attend "princess lessons" in preparation for her introduction to the Genovian government at the upcoming State Dinner, under supervision from her new bodyguard, the head of Genovian security, Joseph "Joe" To look more presentable to the Genovian government, Mia receives a makeover from Italian hairdresser Paolo. All of this is to be kept secret until Genovia's Independence Day Ball to avoid a media frenzy.

However, the San Francisco Chronicle learns that Mia is the Genovian crown princess after Paolo breaks his confidentiality agreement. Although thoroughly annoyed, Clarisse presses onward and prepares for the State Dinner. Mia attends and is publicly humiliated via her klutziness.

The day after the State Dinner, Mia agrees to appear on Lilly's public-access television program Shut Up and Listen and to watch Michael's band perform at a venue that Saturday night. Mia is almost 16 so she is almost able to drive a car, (her "baby", a vintage Ford Mustang.) She takes a test drive with her grandmother and they go to an arcade. Mia asks her grandmother if her father wanted to be prince, to which she replies yes, but adds that he thought of abdicating only once when he fell in love with Mia's mother. However, he realized his love for his country was greater.

While driving back to the Genovian consulate, Mia's car fails on a hill and rams into a trolley loaded with people. No one is hurt, but the police are called. To save Mia a trip to the police station (she was driving without a license), Clarisse names the police man and trolley master to the Genovian Order of the Rose (a fictional honor made up on the spot). The men are so flattered that Clarisse and Mia are given a ride back to the consulate in a police car.

Josh, a cute boy on whom Mia has a crush, asks Mia to go with him to the school's annual beach party. She excitedly agrees. Michael and Lilly are both hurt when Mia blows them off for the popular kids. Mia's mother wisely points out Josh never liked her before all this princess business. Mia ignores this observation.

The beach party goes well at first, but spirals out of control when the media learns of Mia's presence. Josh uses her to get his fifteen minutes of fame by publicly kissing Mia and three jealous popular girls embarrass Mia in front of the paparazzi, resulting in photos of her in only a towel.

The unflattering photos wind up on tabloid covers and this displeases Clarisse. Then, Clarisse tells Mia that she could still go to the ball and invite her friends, except Josh. Joe, however, reminds Clarisse that although Mia is a princess, she is still a teenager and Clarisse's granddaughter. To reconstruct her friendships with Lilly and Michael, Mia apologizes and invites them to the Genovian Independence Day Ball, where she must reveal whether or not she wants to accept her duties as a princess.

Upon learning she must personally and publicly renounce her throne, the terrified Mia plans to run away. She is stopped when she finds a sixteenth birthday gift (the titular diary) and a letter from her father written before his death. Touched by his words, she changes her mind and makes her way to the ball. Her car breaks down on the way, but she is saved by Joe, who arrives with a limo (having suspected her runaway plans).

When they arrive, Mia makes a speech announcing her acceptance of the Genovian throne. She shares her first dance with Michael, who then takes her outside to the palace garden where they kiss. Clarisse and Joe are seen holding hands, signifying the start of a relationship. The last scene shows Mia on the plane with Joe and her cat. Mia is writing in her diary, explaining that she is moving to Genovia, her mother is moving with her, and Lily and Michael will visit her during the summer. When Mia looks out the plane's window she sees the beautiful palace of Genovia below.

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004): The film opens with Mia Thermopolis , Crown Princess of the fictional country of Genovia, graduating from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. Mia, Joe, and Fat Louie the cat fly to Genovia for Mia's 21st birthday and to take her grandmother, Clarisse Renaldi's place as Queen of Genovia. At her birthday ball, she has to dance with all the eligible bachelors. She accidentally steps on a mysterious young man's shoe and dances with him. When Mia's tiara falls off, Viscount Mabrey catches it and it is revealed that he's planning to steal her royal position. Later, Viscount Mabrey mentions another heir to the crown: his nephew, Lord Nicholas Devereaux (Chris Pine). According to Parliament, Mia cannot be crowned Queen unless she gets married in 30 days. Clarisse invites Nicholas to stay at the palace and Mia is shocked when she sees he is the man she flirted with at the ball. Mia is joined by her best friend Lilly Moscovitz and later they research the possible husbands, including Prince William of Wales. Mia chooses Andrew Jacoby, Duke of Kenilworth and days later they are engaged. Mabrey and Nicholas plot against the engagement and so Nicholas starts romancing with Mia.

Princess Mia starts to practice firing a flaming arrow as part of the ceremonies for when she is crowned Queen. At a garden party, Mia gets annoyed after seeing Nicholas with Lady Elissa. They argue near an isolated fountain and Nicholas suddenly kisses Mia. After that, Nicholas has second thoughts about stealing the crown from Mia, and Mabrey realizes that Nicholas has fallen in love with Mia. Later, Mia is practicing archery when Nicholas tells her that he's leaving, but he wants to meet Mia for the last time. Mia is upset, but agrees to meet him. They go to the lake, dance and fall asleep. When they wake up, Mia sees a man in a boat videotaping them. Mia thinks Nicholas set her up and storms off. When she gets back home, the video has already been broadcast on TV. She apologizes to the disappointed Andrew and together they realize that they do not love each other. They do not call off their wedding plans, because Andrew says that he has promised to marry Mia and a gentleman never breaks his promise.

When Mabrey leaves for the wedding, Nicholas is debating on whether he should also attend. Gretchen tells Nicholas that Mabrey set up the videographer at the lake. Nicholas leaves for the ceremony on his grandfather's penny-farthing bicycle, the only means of wheeled transport available. Meanwhile, Mia is walking down the aisle but runs out, realizing she can't marry Andrew. Clarisse goes after her and tells her not to make the same mistake she did and give up on finding love. Mia walks back inside and gives Andrew back her ring, telling him that the both of them should have the chance to find true love. Andrew thanks her and Mia continues on. She says she wants to become Queen without a husband. Mabrey objects, saying his nephew should be King. Nicholas declines the crown, and Mia moves to abolish the marriage law. Parliament votes and the law is changed. Clarisse asks Joe for his hand in marriage and they get married. Nicholas confesses his love for Mia and she is crowned Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, Queen of Genovia.