The Princess Diaries
The Princess Diaries ★★½ 2001 (G)
Gently amusing comedy perfect for tweenies who worry about being misfits. Modernday Cinderella story finds brainybutclumsy San Francisco teen Mia (newcomer Hathaway, who's a real find) learning that she's the heir to the European kingdom of Genovia after the death of her longabsent dad. And to teach her the ways of royalty is her very regal grandmama (Andrews). Think Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. Of course, Mia has her doubts about being a princess, especially when the kids at school learn her secret. There's even a little first romance thrown in for good measure. Based on the novel by Meg Cabot. 114m/C VHS, DVD . US Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo, Erik von Detten, Mandy Moore, Robert Schwartzman, Caroline Goodall, Larry Miller, Sandra Oh, Sean O'Bryan; D: Garry Marshall; W: Gina Wendkos; C: Karl Walter Lindenlaub; M: John Debney.