The Student Prince (British Telefilm)
Picture: B-
Sound: B- Extras: C Telefilm: C
Leave it to the British to try to do a classier version of
a formula story. Previously and
recently, we looked at the feature film First Daughter, which in itself
was the same story and scenario as Chasing Liberty. In both stories, the daughter of the U.S.
President had to go to school and try to live a “normal student life” while
being protected by a main security person.
The twist The Student Prince (1997) offers is that it is a royal
son (Rupert Penry-Jones) going to an academy.
Since the security character is male (played by Robson Green), they do
not get involved (though that would have made the story twisted), but they both
fall for a beautiful young woman and U.S. exchange student, played by Tara
Fitzgerald.
Well, it is done with less childishness and melodrama than
the theatrical films aimed at younger females, but this is as much for a female
audience as the other two. There are a
few bold jokes that you would never see in those child-geared Hollywood
productions that are here in a British TV movie, and one would not even be in
most theatrical U.S. films period. It
may be a slight change of pace, but is the same formula story again and misses
an opportunity to try and be more.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is not bad for
its age, and though it lacks fine detail in parts, is just fuller and richer
enough to surpass similar TV material at 1.33 X 1. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has Pro Logic surrounds and good
audio for the day. Extras include a
stills section, cast filmographies and biography on Green. This may have an audience, but if you have
seen one of these films, one is enough.
- Nicholas Sheffo
