Crown for Christmas: Hallmark’s Obligatory “Princess for Christmas” Movie

Seriously. Are they required to make one of these every Christmas season? They are going to run out of ways to do this plot.

As we enter Hallmark’s annual “Christmas in July” week, let’s take a look at 2015’s offering.

Watch out for SPOILERS!

This year’s Cinderella is Allie Evans (Danica McKellar), who wanted to be an artist. But we learn she gave up that dream when her parents died so she could raise her siblings, Lisa (Rose Neville) and Aaron (Rollo Skinner). Anyway, they are struggling financially because Allie’s job as a maid at a fancy New York hotel doesn’t pay a lot. Even with Lisa working there, it doesn’t help with their debt. Aaron also has a job but Allie wants him to focus on his schoolwork since he’s still in college.

At work, Allie and her sister get sent to the VIP floor, where King Maximilian (Rupert Penry-Jones) has been staying. He feels bad that he’s leaving a mess for housekeeping and asks his butler Fergus (Pavel Douglas) to leave a generous tip. Fergus agrees and then says he needs to interview for a new governess as the princess has run off another one. Maximilian gives him permission to find a new one and then heads out for a meeting. On his way, he ends up running into Allie and her cart. She’s flustered and he clearly thinks it’s adorable.

Lisa gets a call about an audition she’s been waiting for. She’s hesitant to leave her sister but Allie tells her to go, wishing her luck. Allie heads into the king’s room and realizes how big of a job it is. She spots a watch on the dresser just as Maximilian realizes he forgot his. But her supervisor comes in and berates her for not having the room finished. Allie and her sister are fired. She hands over the watch anyway as Maximilian and Fergus watch.

Back at home, Lisa and Aaron worry about what they are going to do. She assures them that they’ll make it work as someone knocks on the door. It’s Fergus, come with a check from Maximilian as thank you for returning the watch. Allie deems it too much and he proposes she accept it then as an advance on her pay. Fergus explains that he’s done some background checks and finds that she’s a hard worker. So he wants her to come to Maximilian’s fictional European country and to be the princess’ governess at least through the holidays, to give him time to find a permanent one.

Allie isn’t so sure as it would take her from her family at Christmas. They assure her they can celebrate when she gets back in January and that it’s too good a job to pass up. So she agrees and Fergus stays for dinner.

Soon, she’s whisked off to the fictional European country to begin her new duties. Fergus shows her around the palace and takes her to her lovely new bedroom. He tells her that she can get settled and the staff will send up her uniform shortly. She is also told she’ll take her meals in her room and she’s starting to feel lonely.

But she does go exploring around her rooms. As she looks out a window, a young girl (Ellie Botterill) tosses snowballs at her. Allie tosses one at the girl just as Maximilian returns home. He reveals that the girl is his daughter, the Princess Theodora. Allie has tossed snow at her new charge. But only one person actually cares and it’s not Maximilian. He seems to think it’s quite amusing.

Of course, Theodora wants to get rid of Allie. And she wants her father’s attention. So she starts to mess with Allie. But as is usual, the fact Allie has no training works in her favor. She decides to befriend Theodora, who she calls “Teddi,” and gets to know the girl. Which includes learning about the girl’s love of plants and bugs. Allie isn’t frightened off and Teddi starts to respect her.

Allie also starts to befriend the staff. Fergus and the cook, Mrs. Claiborne (Emma Burdon-Sutton) become like surrogate parents to her. Only the housekeeper, Miss Wick (Amy Marston) despises her, finding that Allie upsets the order of the palace. Which is also why Maximilian’s main counselor, Chancellor Riggs (Colin McFarlane) hates her as well. And probably because he’s not blind. He can see there’s something between Maximilian and Allie. Maximilian’s late wife, Teddi’s mother, was also American we learn. They had eloped, much to the Chancellor’s dismay.

Chancellor Riggs also has put Maximilian’s late father on a pedestal. He believes the man was the perfect king and Maximilian should be just like him. Maximilian has some reservations about that. It seems that while his father may have been a good king, he wasn’t a very good father. Maximilian doesn’t want to make the same mistakes with Teddi.

Despite his fears, he does seem to be a good father to his daughter. When the housekeeper wants to remove the ornaments she made with Allie, he makes sure they stay up. He also gets closer to Allie in the process as well. They go riding and just spend some time together, realizing they are drawn together but fighting it.

Especially as Chancellor Riggs is trying to arrange a marriage between Maximilian and Lady Celia (Alexandra Evans), a countess who the king had been courting years ago. But then Maximilian had gone to school in America and fallen in love, as these princes tend to do. It drove his father—and I’m sure the Chancellor—nuts. Now, though, Chancellor Riggs and Lady Celia seize their chance.

Teddi is especially against the marriage. Teddi wants someone who will love her father to marry him. She doesn’t care for Celia and it’s pretty obvious the feeling is mutual. Lady Celia even tries to send the girl away to boarding school, that old standby! Of course, Teddi doesn’t want to go. And Maximilian is torn between doing what is best for his daughter and what is best for his country. He’s kinda useless at this point. Allie has to do most of the parenting for Teddi. But in the process, she teaches Maximilian a lesson or two.

But Chancellor Riggs is still in his ear and is pretty strong. He insists that their country needs a queen. So Maximilian just kinda gives in. Chancellor Riggs and Lady Celia pretty much plan everything. Including how to get rid of Allie as she’s a threat to them because…she encourages snowball fights in the courtyard? (Okay, because Maximilian is drawn to her and isn’t as stuffy as Lady Celia so he’s totally cool with a snowball fight in the courtyard).

Their chance comes at the Christmas Eve ball. Teddi invites Allie as her guest and Maximilian approves. She borrows a dress from the cook and heads into the party. Maximilian asks her for a dance and Lady Celia watches with barely concealed jealousy in her eyes. Teddi, though, couldn’t be more pleased.

However, things soon go south. Chancellor Riggs convinces Maximilian to propose at the ball and had even given him his mother’s ring to do so. He goes to retrieve it but is unable to find it. He believes it was just misplaced but the Chancellor fears it was stolen. Lady Celia and he know just who the culprit is—Allie. They confront her but she and Teddi protest her innocence. Chancellor Riggs and Lady Celia don’t believe her and threaten to call the authorities. Over Teddi’s objections, Allie decides it’s best if she leaves that night and Teddi runs off.

Allie pursues her and assures her that they will stay in touch but this is the best for everyone. Teddi hands over the ring, saying she didn’t want her father to give it to Lady Celia. Allie offers to accept the blame but Maximilian says he’ll just say he left it in his room by accident. He and Allie say their goodbyes before he and Teddi return to the ball.

As Allie packs and leaves, Maximilian has to make his Christmas speech. Chancellor Riggs and Lady Celia expect him to propose to her at that time. He even notes this when he starts his speech. But then he announces that he wants to be a good father as well as a good king. So he’s going to focus on Teddi and not get married. Teddi’s happy…Lady Celia is not.

Lady Celia storms out and he follows, trying to explain. She finally reveals her real feelings toward Teddi and Maximilian goes cold, delivering an awesome burn: He tells Lady Celia that unlike her, Teddi will one day be queen. Nice one, your majesty! Teddi meanwhile hugs her father, who promises to spend more time with her and not to send her to boarding school.

Once the party is over, everyone opens the presents Allie left for them. They are portraits she drew of them. Teddi puts hers next to her bed and Maximilian admires the one she drew of him on horseback. After he kisses his daughter goodnight, he saddles up his horse and heads out into the Christmas snow.

Allie looks around the set (because it really does look like one) when she hears a horse approach. Maximilian hops off and tells her he’s not engaged. They then kiss in the snowy set.

When they return to the palace, everyone races out to greet them. Cue the happy ending music!

So how was it? Not too bad, actually. McKellar is likeable and imbues Allie with charm. She is able to portray when Allie is in over her head but also makes it seem believable when she manages to pull it off. Penry-Jones is very good as Maximilian. He portrays a conflicted king and father well and does show how much Maximilian is drawn to Allie. They both sell the romance.

Botterill, the young actress who played Teddi was great as well. She held her own against all the adults and didn’t seem to be too petulant, as some child actors in these roles can go. Everyone else on cast was pretty good and I really hoped for Maximilian to flat out fire his chancellor rather than just say he can resign if he doesn’t like the fact he’s not his father.

But the formula is getting a bit old. Time to put this one to bed for a few years, Hallmark. Come up with something new. It’s time.