Review: The Young Victoria

Film: The Young Victoria

Actors: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Miranda Richardson, & Paul Bettany

The previews for this film are misleading. In February, when I would go to Cineworld, I would always see the trailer for this film and I thought it looked saccharine. I love majestic love stories but the preview did not do the film justice. It made the film look cardboard, when in fact, the film is more low-key and surprisingly endearing.

I shouldn’t be surprised though. Emily Blunt plays Queen Victoria, and like in Devil Wears Prada, Blunt has this ability to make you involved in the premise of the film. She was hilarious in Devil, and very likable and warm as Victoria in The Young Victoria. Paul Bettany does the creepy Lord Melbourne character well and it would have been nice to see more sparring between his character and others in the film. Rupert Friend plays a nuanced Albert. I thought he was cool in it – it is almost disarming seeing very good-looking people playing muted characters. Any Tim Burton fans who liked Sleepy Hollow should recognise Miranda Richardson, who plays Blunt’s mum as well. Period drama veteran Harriet Walter also makes an appearance.

On the whole, period dramas are the types of vehicles that need to be over the top and be rammed with spectacle to match the largesse of the era. Age of Innocence by Scorsese is a good example of this and incidentally Scorsese co-produced The Young Victoria. The subdued nature of the film worked in its’ favour. One thing the producers did well was choosing to show the monarch’s early life, and not post-Albert. They were smart enough to realise Victoria is remembered for her love for Albert and vice versa. It’s a good hook and one which they execute well enough.

Compared to The Duchess, The Young Victoria is a much better film. It is not sweeping or epic like Sense & Sensibility but it paints a sweet character study of two people who were ”meant” to be together. Like Victoria says in the film, “I’m stronger than I look.” That’s true of the film.

NB: Sarah, The Duchess of York’s daughter, Princess Beatrice also makes a tiny cameo at the start of the film. I am guessing the royal powers that be approved of this before it happened.

Verdict: 3 Crazy-in-Love choruses out of 5