- Date of Release: 11 August 2023
- Genre: Comedy, Romance
- Language: English
- Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
Red, White & Royal Blue
Introduction
Onto the next release of the weekend but there is a twist this time around! With not too many releases up for grabs this weekend, I decided to head straight to my watchlist and handpick a film to watch and review. With that I finished watching the new English film Red, White & Royal Blue which is now streaming on Amazon Prime. The film had originally released as a direct to digital release on the cluttered Independence day weekend of August. And because there were other loads of other content to watch and review, Red, White & Royal Blue took a back seat!
If you have been following my reviews, I have often debated on the representation of the LGBTQIA community on celluloid. From reducing them to a caricature in the 90s(taking into account the period when I had my first brush with cinema) to slowly but surely adding them as dignified characters in the recent past. However, while the representation of the characters has improved and considerably so, our society still finds it hard to normalize their presence in a very big way. This is reflective of the fact that we don’t usually get to witness an LGBTQIA love story on celluloid too often. And that is why I was particularly interested in watching Red, White & Royal Blue which did promise for a breezy joyride. So then does Red, White & Royal Blue manage to impress, lets find out.
Story & Screenplay
Based on a New York bestseller, Red, White And Royal Blue follows the story of two young men, one a Prince of the Royal Household and the other a son of an American President, who kick of an unlikely relationship that soon sprouts into love. The only question being would love survive the test of time? The story is a breath of fresh air with the writing treating the drama as a Rom-Com. It is light, breezy and never quite melodramatic while depicting the budding queer romance with utmost sensitive to an extent of normalizing it. The screenplay standing at a runtime of just over 2 hours does make for a heartwarming watch that will put a smile on your face with a warm and fuzzy feeling!
The drama starts off with the introduction of the two protagonists who are instantly thrown in a situation of a general dislike for each other. Call it a difference in cultures or their lifestyles, the two of them do not kick-off on the right note with a hilarious turn of events that results in them being smeared with cake in the royal household. And the opening sequence instantly provides distinct character traits between the two characters that is symbolic of their fire and ice kind of character dynamics. This until the viewers are witness to an infectious bromance that later loses the letter ‘b’ thus guaranteeing a heartwarming watch.
The proceedings are interesting and engrossing with the writers keeping the events light and frothy. The entire equation between the two characters just feels so organic that you are always invested in their journeys while vocally rooting for them right throughout. The conflict in their relationship is more to do with the political situations in each of the countries that the two belong in. While there is a US Presidential Election underway in America, the thought of a Royal being gay is almost unheard of. The stigmas of the society are nicely laid out while also giving a little glimpse into the psyche of the characters. And an underlying conflict is also the fear of the unknown which is nicely highlighted.
There are bouts of comedy sprinkled right throughout the narrative that never allow the melodrama to kick in. Even in its final act, the focus is always on the emotions without allowing the drama to get too heavy. And credit to the writers for creating such beautiful moments of love that it blurs the boundaries of gender while prompting the viewers to fall in love with the two leads. It is almost like the drama runs into a feel-good vibe that instantly creates an atmosphere of warmth. The final act is a tad simplistic but I did not mind it at all. Overall, the writing is just beautiful here and it has the potential to leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling that would linger on long after the film has ended!
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues do have a flirtatious streak to it but with a sense of tenderness that allows to make its way into the heart of the viewers. The music is wonderful and the rendition of ‘Falling In Love With You’ just created one of the most beautiful moments in cinema this year. The BGM compliments the light heartedness of the narrative wonderfully well. The cinematography fills the screen with some wonderful frames that speak a thousand words. The editing is crisp and sharp. Director Matthew Lopez does a fabulous job in handling a delicate subject with utmost sensitivity while not compromising on the humour quotient of the film. The characters being in their 20s did have a targeted age demongraphic to be represented and that vibe was so well tapped into by the director wherein the direction was top notch!
Performances
The performances are fabulous by the ensemble cast. Sarah Shahi as Zahra is an absolute joy to witness with her witty replies in a fabulous act. Uma Thurman as Ellen delivers such a matured and a dignified act as a very progressive character who is firm on the exterior but very tender within. Clifton Collins Jr as Oliver, Rachel Hilson as Nora as Akshay Khanna as Shaan have their moments to shine. But the film belongs to the two protagonists Nicholas Galitzine as Henry and Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex, both of whom share crackling chemistry with each other. The former is an upright little bird trapped in the shackles of a royal household while the latter is a rebellious commoner turned elite kid with a heart of gold. Both of them are brilliant to the core in what was a memorable outing, collectively speaking!
Conclusion
Red, White & Royal Blue is a beautiful celebration of queer love in what is perhaps my favourite romantic drama of the year! Available on Amazon Prime and Highly Recommended!
