To start talking about The Princess Switch, one must remember all the cinematographic clichés about identical people who change places. There is a gigantic number of movies with the same theme.
Netflix, however, thought it wasn’t enough, and decided to produce this version with the talented Vanessa Hudgens starring in both roles (watch here).
That being said, it’s interesting to note how all these films that involve role-swapping are identical in their narrative form. In The Princess Switch this plot is inserted in the context of the Christmas season, where several magical things happen, and the story can seem more credible. Although it is quite predictable, the film amuses, provoking a few laughs and also bringing a cute story that matches the Christmas mood.
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Hudgens is superb in the double role she plays in The Princess Switch. Both as Stacy and Duchess Margaret, she can pass on an image of sweetness and charm, traits that accompany the actress and singer from the time of her media explosion, when she was part of the cast of Disney “High School Musical” in the 2000s. Here, more mature as an actress, she does well on both sides, provoking laughter at her inadequacy after the exchange of roles: Margaret doesn’t know how to fry an egg, which arouses the suspicion of her family that accompanies her in the travel, while Stacy’s simple manners stupefy the royal family.
With this, it is possible to conclude that The Princess Switch is stuffed of clichés, both those of “identity swap” as well as those directed towards Christmas, but that is done with so much care that ends up being pardoned. The film, directed by Mike Rohl, is a succession of commonplaces and situations that we may swear we’ve seen before in similar movies, but that has its magic and enchantment due to the charisma of Hudgens, and the story, which is quite nice.
Synopsis 1: Stacy makes delicious confections. Her look-alike has royal connections. Swapping lives gives both a taste of what they’re missing.
Synopsis 2: When a down-to-earth Chicago baker and a soon-to-be-princess discover they look like twins, they hatch a Christmastime plan to trade places.
Age rating: Everyone