The Prince and Me (2004)
Welcome to The Prince and Me, also known as Julia Stiles’s last teen hit. Straight out Hallmark’s playbook (except this was a theatrical movie), it follows the unlikely and ridiculous romance of a common American girl who attracts the attentions of a royal prince. I know it doesn’t sound so unlikely now that it’s actually happened, but in 2004 it was an absolute fantasy fairy tale. The difference between this movie and its real life counterparts are slim: Julia Stiles is a farmgirl from Michigan who wants to be a doctor, not a former actress and divorcée. and Luke Mably is from Denmark, not England.
Julia (also known as Meghan Markle) is studying pre-med in Michigan University. Luke is a playboy who doesn’t want to take his royal duties seriously. He sees an advertisement on television akin to “Girls Gone Wild” for the university and thinks it would be fun to go to Michigan. Along with his valet, Ben Miller, he enrolls and tries out college life. A small dorm room, bunk beds, and a roommate who labels his food and won’t share the X-Box – welcome to America! When Luke and Julia meet, they bicker and bicker until they flirt and flirt and then fall in love. But Julia doesn’t know he’s a prince! Do you think she’ll find out in a terrible way? Do you think she’ll ever forgive him? Do you think she’ll have trouble adjusting to the royal life, claiming she had no idea what was expected of her?
It’s a little tough to watch now, but don’t hold Meghan Markle against it. Unless she saw this movie in the theaters and took notes, we can just treat this like any other innocent romantic comedy. Yes it’s ridiculous, but so is Cinderella. My favorite part is the roommate, Devin Ratray. After claiming to be allergic to dairy, he reaches out to eat the Luke’s eggs Benedict. He treats him like any other college kid when he doesn’t know his identity, but when Julia comes over to the dorm after the news has been broken and asks if the prince is there, he answers, “You mean Mr. Prince-Who-Ate-My-Triscuits-And-Didn’t-Replace-Them?” He’s still any other college kid, and it’s hilarious.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. There are some camera swerves during the car race in the beginning scene, and that will make you sick. In other words, “Don’t Look, Mom!”
More Julia Stiles movies here!
Julia (also known as Meghan Markle) is studying pre-med in Michigan University. Luke is a playboy who doesn’t want to take his royal duties seriously. He sees an advertisement on television akin to “Girls Gone Wild” for the university and thinks it would be fun to go to Michigan. Along with his valet, Ben Miller, he enrolls and tries out college life. A small dorm room, bunk beds, and a roommate who labels his food and won’t share the X-Box – welcome to America! When Luke and Julia meet, they bicker and bicker until they flirt and flirt and then fall in love. But Julia doesn’t know he’s a prince! Do you think she’ll find out in a terrible way? Do you think she’ll ever forgive him? Do you think she’ll have trouble adjusting to the royal life, claiming she had no idea what was expected of her?
It’s a little tough to watch now, but don’t hold Meghan Markle against it. Unless she saw this movie in the theaters and took notes, we can just treat this like any other innocent romantic comedy. Yes it’s ridiculous, but so is Cinderella. My favorite part is the roommate, Devin Ratray. After claiming to be allergic to dairy, he reaches out to eat the Luke’s eggs Benedict. He treats him like any other college kid when he doesn’t know his identity, but when Julia comes over to the dorm after the news has been broken and asks if the prince is there, he answers, “You mean Mr. Prince-Who-Ate-My-Triscuits-And-Didn’t-Replace-Them?” He’s still any other college kid, and it’s hilarious.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. There are some camera swerves during the car race in the beginning scene, and that will make you sick. In other words, “Don’t Look, Mom!”
More Julia Stiles movies here!