Taglines: She rocks. She rules. She reigns.
The Princess Diaries movie storyline. Mia Thermopolis is the average teenager – sweet, a little geeky and pretty much invisible to everyone with the exception of her mother, best friend Lilly and Lilly’s older brother Michael. Making it through high school without throwing up is a challenge in itself for Mia, so it doesn’t come as welcome news when her estranged grandmother shows up out of the blue and calmly informs her that she is in fact the heir to the throne of a European country called Genovia.
Suddenly Mia’s life is thrown into complete overload. She’s being taught about scarves, waves and pears in order to become a perfect princess, she gets a makeover and a tough looking yet sweet bodyguard/limo driver called Joe. Things get out of hand when the media gets a hold of the story and suddenly Mia is thrust into the spotlight in both the newspapers and in school. On top of all that Mia has a choice to make. She must decide by Genovia’s Independence Day Ball whether she longs to relinquish her claim on the throne or to become the princess and heir to the throne her father and grandmother want her to be.
The Princess Diaries is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Garry Marshall and written by Gina Wendkos, based on Meg Cabot’s 2000 novel of the same name. It stars Anne Hathaway (in her film debut) as Mia Thermopolis, a teenager who discovers that she is the heir to the throne of the fictional Kingdom of Genovia, ruled by her grandmother Queen Dowager Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews). The film also stars Heather Matarazzo, Hector Elizondo, Caroline Goodall, Sandra Oh, Erik von Detten and Kathleen Marshall.
The Princess Diaries opened in 2,537 theaters in North America and grossed $22,862,269 in its opening weekend. It grossed $165,335,153 worldwide—$108,248,956 in North America and $57,086,197 in other territories. The film was followed by a sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, released in August 2004.
About the Story
Teenager Mia Thermopolis lives with her artist mother, Helen, and her cat, Fat Louie, in a remodeled San Francisco firehouse. A somewhat awkward and unpopular girl, Mia is terrified of public speaking, and often wishes to be “invisible”. She has a crush on Josh Bryant, but is frequently teased by both Josh and his cheerleader girlfriend, Lana Thomas. Mia’s only friendships are in the form of the equally unpopular Lilly Moscovitz and Lilly’s brother, Michael, who secretly has a crush on Mia.
Just before her sixteenth birthday, Mia learns that her paternal grandmother, Clarisse, is visiting from Genovia, a small European kingdom. When Mia goes to meet her at a large house (later revealed to be the Genovian consulate), Clarisse reveals she is actually Queen Clarisse Renaldi, and that her son, Mia’s late father, was Crown Prince of Genovia. Mia is stunned to learn she is a princess and heir to the Genovian throne.
In shock, Mia runs home and angrily confronts her mother, who explains she had planned to tell Mia on her eighteenth birthday, but that her father’s death has forced the matter. Queen Clarisse visits and explains that if Mia refuses the throne, Genovia will be without a ruler (A subplot involves a scheming baron and his unsightly baroness quietly rooting for Mia’s downfall.) Helen persuades a hesitant Mia to attend “princess lessons” with the Queen, telling her she does not have to make her decision until the upcoming Genovian Independence Day ball.
Mia is given a glamorous makeover, the use of a limousine, and a bodyguard (the Queen’s head of security, Joe.) This and Mia’s frequent absences for the lessons make Lilly suspicious and jealous, and she accuses Mia of trying to be like the popular girls. Mia breaks down and tells Lilly everything and swears her to secrecy. However, the San Francisco Chronicle learns that Mia is the Genovian Crown Princess after royal hairdresser Paolo breaks his confidentiality agreement (so his work would be known,) causing a press frenzy, and a sudden surge in popularity at school for Mia. In a craven urge for fame, many of her classmates bluff that they are friends of the princess to reporters.
The Princess Diaries (2001)
Directed by: Garry Marshall
Starring: Julie Andrews, Heather Matarazzo, Anne Hathaway, Mandy Moore, Hector Elizondo, Caroline Goodall, Sandra Oh, Erik von Detten, Kathleen Marshall
Screenplay by: Meg Cabot, Gina Wendkos
Cinematography by: Mayne Schuyler Berke
Çostume Design by: Gary Jones
Set Decoration by: Casey Hallenbeck
Art Direction by: Caty Maxey
Music by: John Debney
MPAA Rating: G for all audience.
Distributed by; Buena Vista Pictures
Release Date: August 3, 2001
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