Review

"Once Upon a Prince: A Royal Flush of Predictability and Charm"

Ah, Once Upon a Prince, the 2018 Hallmark movie that proves once again that if you’ve seen one Hallmark movie, you’ve seen them all—but hey, who’s complaining? This film is like a warm, slightly stale cookie: comforting, familiar, and just sweet enough to make you forget you’ve eaten 12 of them already.

The plot is as predictable as your aunt’s insistence that you’ll meet someone nice if you just “put yourself out there.” Susie (played by the ever-charming Brittany Bristow) is a small-town girl with big dreams, and Prince Charming—excuse me, Prince Nathaniel (Sam Page)—is, well, a prince. They meet, they bicker, they fall in love, and they overcome some minor royal obstacle that could’ve been solved with a single honest conversation. But where’s the fun in that? We’re here for the slow-burn romance, the picturesque landscapes, and the inevitable scene where someone dramatically runs through a field in slow motion.

What sets Once Upon a Prince apart from other Hallmark movies? Absolutely nothing. And that’s the beauty of it. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a cozy blanket and a cup of hot cocoa. You know exactly what you’re getting: no surprises, no twists, and definitely no R-rated content. It’s the kind of movie where the biggest conflict is whether the prince will choose duty over love (spoiler: he won’t).

If you’re a fan of Hallmark holiday movies, this one will feel like coming home for Christmas—except it’s not Christmas, there’s no snow, and the only eggnog is the metaphorical kind you sip while watching the prince awkwardly try to fit into small-town life. The dialogue is cheesy, the chemistry is wholesome, and the ending is so saccharine it might give you a cavity. But isn’t that why we tune in?

In conclusion, Once Upon a Prince is a delightful, if formulaic, addition to the Hallmark canon. It won’t win any Oscars, but it might win your heart—or at least your attention for 90 minutes. So grab your popcorn, suspend your disbelief, and let yourself be swept away by the royal romance you didn’t know you needed. After all, who needs originality when you’ve got true love and a prince who looks great in a suit?

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 tiaras.