The Young Victoria: Movie Review

The Young Victoria: Movie Review

Rating: 8/10 for females... 6/10 for males
Cast: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Produced by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and Academy Award winners Martin Scorsese and Graham King, The Young Victoria is something I've waited a long time for - a decent costume drama.
And one without Ms Knightley in it to boot!
The Young Victoria , much like the title suggests, tells the story of Queen Victoria's ascension to the throne, her shaky first steps as Britain's monarch, and the courtship that eventually led to one of the most famous romances of all time.
Queen Victoria (Emily Blunt) is a headstrong young woman wary of being manipulated, who is unsure who to trust in the first years of her rule.
When her cousin, Prince Albert (Rupert Friend), counsels her to learn to play the political game better than those who seek to use her, the audience gets its first hint that this gentle, logical man may be the perfect match for the feisty queen.
But standing in his way is Victoria's heavy reliance on the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), for guidance.
Blunt's nuanced portrayal of Victoria manages to balance great strength of character with an underlying vulnerability, giving the queen an accessibility that immediately endears her to the audience.
Friend also impresses with his inherently likeable interpretation of Albert. He has the audience in the palm of his hand from the moment he advises Victoria to "...find [a man] to play [the political game] with you, not for you."
Even though this story's outcome is pre-determined, The Young Victoria is no dry dusty plod through the history books. There is plenty of humour and joie de vivre, as well as a surprising amount of suspense.
It's at this point that I have to admit to being genuinely worried that Victoria wouldn't end up with Albert, even though my general knowledge was telling me otherwise...
But please don't think this is just another sweeping romantic saga in fancy dress, although the costumes are exquisite.
The real focus is on Victoria's coming of age, and her struggle to find the best way to serve her people and her country. And since Fergie is a producer, I can't help but believe that this movie is fairly accurate in its depiction of the behind-the-scenes politics faced by the British Monarchy.
Also adding to the film's royal connections is a rather unusual extra - Princess Beatrice, who has a 'blink and you'll miss it' non-speaking role as one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting.

So what are you waiting for?

The Young Victoria is hugely enjoyable, visually opulent, and has a fabulously talented cast who are a delight to watch.