One of the most surprising hits in recent years was The Princess Diaries in 2001, a modest $34-million adaptation of Meg Cabot's novel favored by young females. The film earned $108-million during a theatrical run that lasted five months, well past the typical shelf life of movies in the home video era.
Director Garry Marshall's movie reminded Hollywood that young females can support films made with their sensibilities in mind, sparking a trend that Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan and Mandy Moore have continued. Girls want to have their own fun, not just settle for a few romantic touches in movies made with boys in mind.
It's no surprise that Disney decided to make a sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement, opening nationwide Wednesday. What is surprising is that Disney is banking so heavily on its success after a dry spell at the box office that The Village ended last weekend with its No. 1 debut.
Hits haven't been considered flukish at Disney for 20 years, but that's exactly how The Village will seem to industry observers - and perhaps those Disney stockholders wanting CEO Michael Eisner out - if Marshall's encore doesn't match the original's success.
Anne Hathaway, left, returns as Mia Thermopolis, a formerly awkward American teenager who blossomed into the lovely princess of fictional Genovia. The lessons of regal behavior continue with Julie Andrews reprising her role as Genovia's queen, and Marshall's mascot Hector Elizondo (14 movies and counting!) as Mia's stuffy but compassionate adviser.
For a sequel twist, Mia learns that marriage to a British suitor (Chris Pine, right) is being arranged for her. A review will be published Wednesday on Page 2B.
