Young Victoria - B+

On DVD (2009). Rated PG, 105 minutes. Trailer.

The toothy Emily Blunt stars as England's Queen Victoria as she comes of age, assumes the crown and finds love in the 1830s. Director Jean-Marc Vallée provides the requisite stunning and opulent costume and set designs for the film, which certainly earned its Oscar win for Costume Design and nomination for Art Direction and Makeup. The film touches on typical royal/high society themes of loneliness, alienation, love and deceit. Click below for more on YV:


I am apparently a sucker for romantic British costume dramas because I love the sets and the scenes of love restrained. The director really brings home the loneliness of Victoria amongst the sycophants and schemers. The love story with Prince Albert is great until it hatches, and then the film gets really boring and uninspired for about 20 minutes. Blunt is fine in the role, but really nothing special. Her bizarre teeth cap situation certainly takes her out of a 'period' look. Worth your time if you like this type of film.