The Young Victoria

The Young Victoria is a movie about British history for those who love soap operas, and don't care alot about British history. Why let those pesky details and accuracy get in the way of looking at some pretty dresses?

Set in the early 1800's, Emily Blunt stars as Victoria - the only living heir to the British throne. While the monarchy is superseded in power by Parliament, royalty still has its benefits (awesome government housing, a staff to cook and clean, top of the line horse and buggy, lots of fancy, booze-filled parties and not many responsibilities, SIGN ME UP!), so plenty of ill-intentioned people seek a way to exploit the situation and control the kid, which leads to Victoria being over-protected in every way possible. Of course, those protecting her and advising her all want to take advantage of the young lady as well.

Will she make it to her 18th birthday and wear the crown?

Whose counsel shall she seek and value?

If you ever saw The Devil Wears Prada, you know Blunt can be the most dynamic, scene stealing, vivacious actress on the screen. What happened?!?!?!

Blunt is beyond boring, bland and blah in The Young Victoria. She doesn't bring any spark of life to Victoria. No vivaciousness. No fire.

Instead, she muddles along in a role she never should have been cast in. Blunt is a beautiful woman, but she's too old for any of us to believe she is a young, impetuous teen girl trying to rebel against an evil mother and the other controlling figures in her life. Are you telling me the producers couldn't find one decent actress in her late teens or early twenties to play Victoria? It's not like Blunt is so amazing or such a big name that it was worth taking this chance.

Director Jean-Marc Valle and writer Julian Fellowes produce a movie about a whole lotta nothing as we follow Victoria through childhood, everyone trying to take advantage of her, powerful men trying to control her, and her eventual emergence as a mature leader, but none of it is memorable or inspiring enough to speak to women (or men) everywhere. Sure, Valle and Fellowes want females across the globe to see something about their lives in Victoria's plight, but you have to be awake to learn any lessons or feel empathy, and that's not likely in The Young Victoria, unless you drank a six pack of Red Bull while walking into the Cineplex.

The Young Victoria looks pretty, but lacks depth, good acting, compelling storytelling, interesting direction and all of that stuff indicative of a good movie.

The Young Victoria is rated PG for some mild sensuality, a scene of violence, and brief incidental language and smoking.