THE PRINCESS – Review

Many of you might be wanting to take a break from the big studio action blockbusters with wall-to-wall bone-crunching stunts and feats of physical derring-do. Well, if you see this title popping up on your streaming services, you might believe that it’s a sweet bit of fairy tale fantasy and a relaxing change of pace for your movieviewing. Um…think again, becuase, this royal heir would stun and surprise at a tea party for the “Disney divas’. After watching this you’ll know that there are few medieval movie heroines quite like THE PRINCESS.

Now, when we first meet her, she’s doing the whole “Sleeping Beauty” bit as she sleeps on a fancy feather bed in a room at the top of a castle tower. At least it’s not a glass coffin like Snow White. Ah, but as soon as she awkens,we realize such a fate could be in the cards for the Princess (Joey King). She recalls an altercation ending with her being forced to inhale some form of sleeping salts (no, not a magic potion). Before she can gather her memories she hears heavy footsteps outside the door. When they enter, the Princess transforms into a whirling dervish of punches and kicks, using every object at hand to take down this deadly duo even though her hands are in manacles. Somehow she has to evade all the guards at every level in order to return to the rest of her royal family. many many feet below her. Mother, father, and kid sister Violet are being watched over by the evil schemer Julius (Dominic Cooper). He’s a diplomat from another country (we’re never given exact locations) who decides that the best way to take the throne is by marrying the Princess. And thanks to his secret army of goons led by his deadly “consort” Moira (Olga Kurylenko), he pressures the royals into a last minute wedding, which ends when the bride, the Princess, refuses (leading to the gassing and imprisoning). As she works her way down, flashbacks show us how the daughter of one of the king’s foreign advisors, Linh (Veronica Ngo), trained her in all manner of self-defence skills, which horrifies the King. He had been hoping for a son to take the throne, which inspired the master plan of Julius. But even with her considerable fighting knowledge, can the Princess save her family, and defeat the army of killers that infests the once peaceful kingdom?

Previously known for her work in teen romcoms and a few horror flicks, Ms. King can now add action star to her fairly long film resume. She flings herself into combat with wild abandon, bouncing from one attacker to another as though she’s changing dance partners in a most intricate musical number. Which she is, in a way. Since the settings aren’t especially vast, King needs to be in view, though I’m sure the stunt team really “earned their fees”.Sure, she seems super-human at times, but King shows us the panic in her eyes as she scans the area for a possible weapon. And those eyes water and her mouth contorts in agony when the punches hit their target. Cooper doesn’t have nearly as much to do as his Julius twirls his mustache while screaming orders at his endless henchmen supply, but he does the whole usurper role well, with a a true mania for deviltry. The real “dirty work’ is left to Kurylenko who’s the proper “flipside” of King as the sneering dominating dispenser of pain as she becomes more of a “tigress with a whip”, which packs an extra ‘sting’ when a sharp hook emerges from its tip. Ngo is also quite impressive as the mentor turned partner in the big kitchen “rumble” and during the frenetic finale.

Vietnamese filmmaker Le-Van Kiet keeps the film moving at a break-neck pace almost from the opening moments, only occasionally slowing down to give us a bit of backstory via flashbacks and the Princess peering in on Julius and Moira from the labyrinth of walkways behind the castle’s chambers. In favor of the big fights and escapes, the screenwriters have eschewed much of the period and historical details. As I mentioned, no countries are named along with the monikers of the royal family (other than Violet). the lead is always her royal title. The look of the film balances the decorative with the deadly, especially the weaponry. Aside from the whips’ spring hook, there’s a great spin on the classic crossbow. Along with the swords and spears, the guards use a long-handled sledgehammer device with one end looking like a steel fist. Of course, the story requires a big suspension of disbelief as the heroine has an endless supply of energy coursing through her petite frame, as the film often resembles a medieval KILL BILL or JOHN WICK, as countless cuts and punctures barely slow her down. For the viewer, well it gets a bit exhausting and mind-numbing even at a taut 90 or so minutes. But for the action enthusiast, they’ll get their kicks (and punches and swordplay) here watching THE PRINCESS, a lady in no need of a Prince Charming to rescue her, though it’d be great if he brought some bandages and linament.

Two Out of Four

THE PRINCESS is now streaming exclusively on Hulu