Movie: The Young Victoria

I love Victorian period movies. LOVE THEM. Why? Because I love the romance, the clandestine meetings, letters, longing looks and of course the necessary dance sequence where the characters struggle to contain their love, which culminates shortly thereafter in a wooded setting with kisses and asking for permission to marry.

I eat that sh*t up. With a spoon. I swoon and almost throw myself on my back, scratching around because it’s so d*mn cute.

And while I hate Emily Blunt for being so gorgeous, talented and mostly for being engaged to the man of my dreams in real life, I was intrigued by the movie’s trailer. And fortunately, it came out in Milwaukee on Christmas Day so I could skip over for a showing and bask in the pageantry.

Movie: The Young Victoria

Rating: PG

Release date: December 18, 2009 (limited)

Everyday Adventures’ grade: A+

Summary: Victoria (Emily Blunt) is the future Queen of England who is kept “protected” by her mother (Miranda Richardson) and advisors. And Victoria is feeling like she’s trapped in a prison, just waiting for word about when she will become queen. And she is trapped. She has to be escorted down the stairs at all times and her food has to be “taste tested” first. Contemporary books and music are banned too. The movie generally follows the first few years of her reign and the romance she has with husband Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) from Germany. Fortunately, the movie doesn’t weigh as heavily on the political piece of this (unlike Cate Blanchett’s Elizabeth movies) but the romance between Albert and Victoria, which is entertaining enough on it’s own.

My thoughts: I absolutely f*cking love this movie. It was above and beyond my expectations and so far is one of my favorite movies of the latter half of the year. Despite my hate toward Emily Blunt for taking my man, she was amazing in this role with a great mix of vulnerability, insecurity and young love. Much like Carey Milligen in An Education, she just wears all of her emotions on her sleeve when it comes to Prince Albert and you suddenly wish you received passionate declarations of love via letter and now, I wish I had someone to just write a letter to! Rupert Friend is great as Albert and the chemistry between him and Emily is just spot-on. The costumes are amazing (hello couture!) and the scenes of Windsor castle and the then newly built Buckingham Palace are jaw dropping. Miranda Richardson does well as Victoria’s mother who meant well by her daughter but took bad advice along the way and Jim Broadbent, in a smaller role, is memorable too. I laughed, cried and just left with this warm and fuzzy feeling.

Seriously though, this movie belongs to Emily Blunt in just a really great performance. I would definitely see it again and encourage you to check it out as well.

Reader note: This is my first movie review on my little blog so please let me know if you want me to continue or have any requests of other information to include. I’m still learning as I go with this.