REVIEW: ‘The Princess Switch’ entertains with romance, hilarity

Rachel M. White, Staff Writer

“The Princess Switch” (2018) is a romantic movie that perfectly captures feelings of love, fate and Christmas with an unexpected plot.

An underrated yet talented Chicago baker named Stacy DeNovo (Vanessa Hudgens) and her sous chef  Kevin Richards (Nick Sagar) are invited to compete in a baking competition in the fictional country of Belgravia. Snowy streets, Christmas lights, decorations and a village filled with people getting ready for the holiday make the viewer feel the Christmas spirit.

While they’re setting up at the baking competition their main competitor intentionally spills something on Stacy in order to show her superiority. As Stacy heads backstage to clean up, she bumps into the Duchess of Montenaro, Margaret Delecourt  (also played by Hudgens), who is there because the royal family is sponsoring the baking competition. When they meet, they quickly realize they are dopplegangers.

Margaret, dreading her upcoming arranged marriage to the prince, asks for a favor from Stacy: to switch places with her temporarily so she can see what it’s like to be “normal.”

There are many comical moments when they first switch and are trying to figure out their new lives. However, Margaret learns that she actually loves being ordinary. Eventually romance stirs when she falls in love with Kevin. While this is happening, Stacy gets the hang of being royalty while also falling in love with Prince Edward.

Hudgens performed the two roles exceptionally well, including her convincing English accent as Margaret Delecourt. Although Hudgens played both Stacy and Margaret, there was a clear distinction in the characters through the accents and their unique personalities.

Kevin’s young daughter Olivia Richards (Alexa Adeosun) finds out about the switch and goes along with the plan. Olivia adds lightheartedness to the movie, and her comedy makes it more enjoyable for young viewers.

As the movie continues and the romance builds, the chemistry between the new couples is obvious and adds to the movie’s excitement as viewers wonder if these relationships will be able to last when they find out the truth.

Similar to a  “Hallmark Christmas movie,”  this Netflix Original has an untraditional plot set in the Christmas season, and an even better ending to make this a must see movie this holiday season.Courtesy Netflix