A Royal Christmas (2014)

As the only daughter of an expert tailor in Philadelphia, Emily Corrigan Taylor(Chabert) is a kindhearted young woman proud of her blue-collar background. She is a devoted seamstress at the family business and madly in love with her doting European boyfriend, Leo(Hagan). But as their first Christmas together approaches, Leo drops a bombshell on his unsuspecting girlfriend: he is actually Prince Leopold, heir to the throne of Cordinia, a small sovereign country.

Less than enthusiastic about her son’s relationship with a commoner, the prince's mother Queen Isadora(Seymour) makes Emily feel anything but welcome at their grand castle, leaving Emily to feel more at home among Isadora’s staff of butlers and housemaids. As Emily struggles to adapt to her new royal surroundings, the situation is made more difficult when a scheming Isadora invites Duchess Natasha(Flynn), Leo’s ex-girlfriend, to join them for Christmas. Attempting to stay true to herself in a world where she clearly doesn’t belong, Emily wonders if love is enough to keep her newly royal relationship from falling apart before Christmas morning.- The Hallmark Channel

Directed by Alex Zamm
Written by Janeen & Michael Damian, and Tippy & Neal Dobrofsky

Stars

Ms. Jane Seymour as Queen Isadora, Lacey Chabert as Emily Taylor, Stephen Hagan as Prince Leopold, Simon Dutton as Victor, Katherine Flynn as Duchess Natasha, Mitchell Mullen as Mr. Bud Taylor, Katrina Nare as Toni, Diana Dumitrescu as Olivia, Vlad Ianus as Will, Kate Loustau as Baroness Galina, and Alice O'Mahoney as Poppy

Let's be honest.  This is a very formulaic and predictable film.  Indeed, it truly is, but I must say, I still loved it. Yes, even if my every guess was right.

The acting was good, and the chemistry, well, it was also good. Not great, but definitely believable.

JANE SEYMOUR was her very classy self.  I chuckled when she told her daughter in real life, KATIE FLYNN, who played Duchess Natasha, that she reminded her of herself when she was younger.

LACEY CHABERT, who, even though does not exude beauty that could win her an international beauty contest, is very beautiful in her own right. Her character, Emily, is very talented, and has a heart of gold, making her more appealing than ever.  

STEPHEN HAGAN really knows how to act as a person who is so in love with someone society dictates as unsuitable for him.  

SIMON DUTTON, right from the start of the story, felt like Joe from Princess Diaries.

The castle looked real enough, but the town square was time warped or something.

Emily's clothes were lovely, and made her more beautiful, as for the rest...  

I also love Toni(KATRINA NARE deserves to have a big break), Poppy(ALICE O'MAHONEY), Emily's dad named Bud(MITCHELL MULLEN), the servants.

All in all, I like how the Queen was enlightened, and that she had a back story too.  

Sigh.  It was like she was punishing her son whom she loved...loves so dearly.

Anyways, predictable or not, it worth watching.

🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄

Thanks for your time.