She…She Would Be Queen

I’ve seen a few pictures of England’s Queen Victoria (thanks, Wikipedia!), and lemme tell ya, she was no Emily Blunt (whom I know you remember from The Devil Wears Prada), an actress so lovely and modern, she’s almost too so for the role of The Young Victoria...but she works in the role, and I could not picture anyone else filling her petticoat.

The movie, directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and written by Jullian Fellowes (Gosford Park), is told at an unrushed pace and feels longer than it actually is, an irony since by the time it ends you’ll want to see more.

It is a thoroughly entertaining account of the early period in Victoria’s reign, from her contentious-with-her-closest pre-coronation months to her naïve, bumbling first few years at the throne.

When we first meet her, Victoria is all of 17, and although, yes, she was a child of privilege, as the only legitimate heir of King William, her upbringing was hardly a thing of getting her way at every turn, for she led a most sheltered life.

It was lonely and controlled.

She grew up in a palace and she had a governess at her beck and call, but she also had an overwhelming mother, the Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson), who in turn had a manipulative advisor, Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong), calling the shots. Together, the two wanted Victoria to sign a regency order, which she refused.

She knew she would be queen of England no matter what anyone had to say. It was her duty and her destiny, and even though she knew she was unprepared, she would not relinquish her right.

At the same time, though, her Belgian uncle’s scheming to arrange a marriage between Victoria and her cousin Prince Albert of Germany (Rupert Friend, looking every bit regal), the man who would become the love of her life.

Also scheming? Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), a trusted advisor of Victoria’s who eventually would put his agenda aside in order to do right by her.

The Young Victoria is a greatly told tale, one that, surely, has taken liberties for the sake of drama, so, as I often say, just enjoy it for what it is, which is not a history lesson.

More importantly, get with the program, already, and admire Blunt, who plays The Young Victoria with a combination of vulnerability and strength that’s just delicious.

My Rating ***

Photo: Apparition Films.