When it was first announced that there was going to be a movie made from Casey McQuiston's novel, Red, White and Royal Blue, I was ecstatic. I had devoured the book over my summer vacation back in 2019 and was eager to see the film adaptation, hoping it held up to the highly enjoyable novel. I am pleased to be able to report it is as the film was one of the better romantic comedies I have seen in recent memory.
Alex Claremont-Diaz (played by Taylor Zakhar Perez) is the son of United States President Ellen Claremont (played by Uma Thurman). He is sent to attend a Royal Wedding alongside his friend, and granddaughter of the Vice President, Nora Holleran (played by Rachel Hilson). During the reception, he gets into an argument with Prince Henry (played by Nicholas Galitzine) that results in them accidentally knocking over the towering wedding cake on top of the both of them. The incident is heavily photographed and makes headlines across the globe. Both Governments, fearing bad publicity, decide the best course of action is forcing Alex and Henry to pretend to be friends through a series of press interviews. After getting a chance to talk a bit, Alex and Henry are able to make peace over past perceived slights between the two and actually become friends for real. The two continue to bond over texts and emails between one another. While attending Alex's annual New Year's Eve party, it becomes clear to Henry that he likes Alex as more than a friend and makes a move to Alex's surprise. Initially surprised, Alex comes to realize he likes Henry as more than a friend too. As the romance grows between the two men as they meet up in secret, they find themselves realizing that the will need to figure out what they really mean to each other since both live extraordinarily public lives as well as what the consequences could be for those they care about, chiefly the British Crown and Alex's mom's re-election campaign.
The film was directed by Matthew Lopez from a script he co-wrote with Ted Malawer. The film remains reasonably faithful to the source novel, with some understandable omissions to allow the film to fit neatly into a 120 minute runtime. They keep the film moving at a brisk pace as the romance between Henry and Alex front and center. The tone remains light and humorous through much of the film, with just enough sexiness to give the film a little edge (it certainly does earn its R rating, after all). Still, they do an adequate job of giving some real stakes to Alex and Henry's relationship and the obstacles they have to overcome in order to be together. The film boasts some gorgeous cinematography by Stephen Goldblatt to support the film.
The cast is fantastic, starting with our two leads Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine. They have undeniable chemistry with each other that is palpable throughout the film. Perez does a great job capturing Alex's ambition and desires to be taken seriously by his mother's campaign staff. He also capture's Alex uncertainty as well as his recklessness and obliviousness when it comes to his relationship with Henry. Likewise, Galitzine does a great job conveying Henry's internal conflict between his love and desire to be with Alex and the duty he feels to the Crown. Sarah Shahi low-key steals the show as Zahra Bankston, Ellen's much put-upon Deputy Chief of Staff who finds it falls to her to fix the P.R disaster Alex and Henry create, as well as everything that comes from that. Rachel Hilson does well as Nora, Alex's best friend, and is a solid support for him. Uma Thurman is great as Ellen Claremont, capturing the more commanding side as someone who is President as well as the more maternal side when it's just her and Alex in the more heartfelt moments, all the while really sinking her teeth into a Texas accent the whole time. Stephen Fry does the most with one single scene as King James III, injecting some warmth and humanity into what could have been a very one note character in lesser hands.
Overall, Red, White, and Royal Blue is one of the more delightful romantic comedies to come out in quite some time. The two leads have undeniable chemistry, the film is genuinely romantic and frequently very funny. Like any good Rom-Com, this will undoubtedly be one I watch many, many more times and honestly I can't think of higher praise for a movie than that.
