The Prince and Me (2004)

29% of critics liked it
(119 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(176,810 ratings)

For the second time in her career, Julia Stiles plays a character romancing the Crown Prince of Denmark in The Prince & Me, a romantic wish-fulfillment fantasy from director Martha Coolidge. Far from her role as Ophelia in 2000's Hamlet, however, Stiles plays Paige, a plucky, determined college… More For the second time in her career, Julia Stiles plays a character romancing the Crown Prince of Denmark in The Prince & Me, a romantic wish-fulfillment fantasy from director Martha Coolidge. Far from her role as Ophelia in 2000's Hamlet, however, Stiles plays Paige, a plucky, determined college student from the Midwest who's buried in her last few semesters of pre-med studies when she meets Eddie, a brash, impudent Danish foreign-exchange student who just happens to have a mysterious partner (Ben Miller) shadowing him in everything he does. What Paige doesn't know is that Eddie is in fact the spoiled son of the King (James Fox) and Queen (Miranda Richardson) of Denmark, on holiday in America hoping to find a nonstop keg party complete with buxom American babes. What he and his butler don't count on is squalid dorm life, final exams, and the possibility that Eddie might actually find his true soul mate in the sensible Paige. But when Eddie finally reveals his secret, will Paige want to give up her dreams of becoming a doctor for a playboy prince? ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Martha Coolidge
Written By: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler, Katherine Fugate
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Apr 2, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Aug 10, 2004
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Ed Park, Village Voice
Paige eventually comes to a self-affirming decision, but the Danish interlude succeeds too well in making us feel her boredom.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
... thumbs down for me ...
Sara Gebhardt, Washington Post
Nothing is new about the movie's premise, but it is entertaining all the same.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Bland and immediately disposable.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
Even its pre-teen audience could use a bit more quirkiness and a little less formula.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
The sound you hear is the death rattle of the women's movement.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Good acting saves unoriginal Cinderella story.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...generally remains a cut above the majority of its contemporary romcom brethren - with the dreaded fake break-up handled particularly well (the second fake break-up is kind of pushing it, though).
Dan Lybarger, eFilmCritic.com
A Royal Letdown.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
the script and Martha Coolidge direction are so play-it-safe formulaic that the film lacks fairy-tale luster. It's as predictable as an Elvis movie-without the music.
Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International
As pleasing as The Prince & Me can be, director Martha Coolidge's film delivers nothing to advance the genre.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Director Martha Coolidge provides a thorough, sincere commentary, and she has plenty to say about the production.
Anna Smith, Empire Magazine
This attempt at a modern-day Cinderella story is about as PC as a Career Girl Barbie and disappoints due to poor structure, flimsy characterisation and insufficient wit to distract from the above.
Joe Utichi, FilmFocus
Julia Stiles is sweet in this charming, but unfulfilling, rom-com.
James Christopher, Times [UK]
A woeful and predictable outing for Cinders and an impossibly twitty prince
Neil Smith, BBC
A shallow exercise in wish-fulfilment that wants to have its royal wedding cake and eat it too.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bethany M

The best was this one. The rest are horrible and missing Julia Stiles big time.
Jennifer X

I just didn't get it. Not princessy enough for me (barely any scenes in the royal palace!), but not high school enough either. It's just a lot of Julia Stiles rehashing 10 Things I Hate About You and that other dude not being as charming as Heath Ledger.
Richard C

D
Red L

Another stock story - this one about a girl-from-the-farm falling in love with a prince-in-hiding. The prince asks her to marry him, but she does not want to live an inconsequential life being hounded by paparazzi, so she goes home -- and you know how it will end.
Jon L

Funny. Missed the beginning, but it was entertaining. A little corney but, not over the top. It was what I expected.
Arash X

These supposed to be sweet comedy/romance movies with these supposed to be sweet actresses make me sick, Stiles is annoying like always
danny d

i saw enough of this to know that it was terrible. there was one hilarious scene over a thanksgiving meal that saves this film from the worst of the worst, but it was pretty bad.
Alice S

It's just never-gonna-happen escapist fantasy fun. And I'm glad the script doesn't allow for inane hedging around with "Let me explain - I - but- you" et cetera et cetera ad nauseum. The characters actually get chances to speak.
Rachel F

This was so cute.
Jason S

Pretty good and at one point it feels like two movies.
Leigh R

Cute little movie.
Naughtia N

Ok, since when do the Danish people speak English with a British accent? If you know Danish people, you know that they speak English in an entirely different accent, that's for sure. This may be how Americans see Danish people but it clearly isn't the case in the real world.… More
Ok, since when do the Danish people speak English with a British accent? If you know Danish people, you know that they speak English in an entirely different accent, that's for sure. This may be how Americans see Danish people but it clearly isn't the case in the real world. This really bummed me out. But on the other hand the story was cute and very much a chick flick. Well designed for 13 year old US girls.
Deb S

It?s a tale of star-crossed lovers with Edward Valdemar Dangaard (Luke Malby) being the bad-boy Prince of Denmark, royally gifted at landing in the tabloids for his various rich-boy indiscretions. Paige Morgan (Julia Stiles) plays the dedicated pre-med student, who takes an immediate… More
It?s a tale of star-crossed lovers with Edward Valdemar Dangaard (Luke Malby) being the bad-boy Prince of Denmark, royally gifted at landing in the tabloids for his various rich-boy indiscretions. Paige Morgan (Julia Stiles) plays the dedicated pre-med student, who takes an immediate dislike for him, and this is something he has never encountered before. Nevertheless the two predictably fall in love. Edward flies back to Denmark and Paige is now torn between going to med school and Edward. However despite the "girl finds her prince" theme, she remains a strong person, who keeps her identity and dreams.
Nicolas K

Cindirella story.
Yinalí R

Very moving.
George K

Fairytale romance about a pre-med student at the University of Wisconsin falling in love with a prince from Denmark. Luke Mably does an admirable job as Prince Edward who goes by the name "Eddie" at UW. In a classic fish out of bowl experience, Prince Edward learns how to… More
Fairytale romance about a pre-med student at the University of Wisconsin falling in love with a prince from Denmark. Luke Mably does an admirable job as Prince Edward who goes by the name "Eddie" at UW. In a classic fish out of bowl experience, Prince Edward learns how to slice turkey, milk a cow, and do laundry. Julie Stiles plays the lead character of Paige Morgan. She's a perfect fit for this role. When an actress becomes the character that equals success. I will not see the Prince and Me 2 because Julia Stiles IS Paige Morgan. Plain and simple.
Miriam K

I like Julia Stiles. I think that she has potential if she would choose better roles. This was fine for what it was designed to be!
Sarah B

Feisty leads, slapstick and a fish-out-of-water premise do not make up for a slack script, lousy characterisation and mawkish sentiment.
Donna D

I actually liked this romantic comedy with Julia Stiles. Fun and romantic, and I actually cried at one part. lol..what a sap, I am. But it's a good one to watch. Cinderella type of movie.
Ira Z

Entertaining, to say the least.