Reviews

I love musicals, but...was adding this one to the Netflix library even necessary? I never expected Diana the Musical, while on Broadway, to be as popular and iconic as Les Miserables or The Phantom of the Opera, but America's infatuation with the Royals is quite embarrassingly apparent here. I mean, how many documentaries and biopics do we need to get an idea of how amazing Princess Di was? May she rest in peace and eternal glory.

Back to the musical though: It wasn't as terrible and unwatchable as most of the reviewers express, but...well, they tried. None of the songs are particularly catchy to the point where you find yourself humming it long after the movie ends, but (like with all showtunes) each of them was significant to the plot as an extension of the script. The actress who played/plays the title character is a talented singer and deserves more credit for portraying a complex and beloved character.

Overall, this Diana production/performance should've been aired on PBS as a Great Performances episode or something, rather than a Netflix movie.

No matter how many TV shows, movies, or otherwise featuring the British royals are produced, the same ideas are known and highlighted: 1. Charles (the current king) married the pure and beautiful Diana because his "mum" Queen Elizabeth pressured him to do so. 2. Diana was an innocent schoolteacher who didn't know what she got herself into when she married the prince. 3. Camilla kinda sucks (we know what she did). 4. British paparazzi might be considered villains as well...and 5. Diana was a martyr and her ginormous heart deserved better.

That being said, this movie just happened to be a musical retelling of that story, and that makes it unique.

I watched this movie mainly because i felt like watching a Disney Channel movie was something I owed to my inner t(w)een. I will have to say I was surprised by this one. It was for more mature audiences than your typical DC watchers (mostly because of the language but wardrobe in some parts was a little more "adult" than I predicted as well). I was also surprised that judging by the movie's title, you'd roll your eyes and think "Great, another dumb teen movie about fake dating or blah blah..." but what ended up happening was unexpected, I'll have to say. The '80s references, between the "promposals" and nostalgic songs, were pretty cute. I was a '90s kid so I don't know how much of a big deal asking someone to prom is nowadays (because whatever happened to doing so simply and sincerely?) This may have been a better fit for Disney+ entirely but since I no longer have access to the streaming service, I'm glad it premiered on cable.

Having seen the ending, I feel like the resolution/revelation was one that's been done before...but I liked watching it anyway. I tend to stay away from Netflix films (because I've seen a bunch of disappointing ones from the platform) but The Weekend Away was well-acted, the setting was aesthetically pleasing and the overall suspense of the plot was exciting enough to keep me guessing. I'd watch it again (and I haven't even seen Gone Girl more than once)!

Just...WHY? Cinderella's such a classic story that has been told and retold to the point where it's tiring by now. As if the classic, animated Cinderella film and the modernized "Cinderella Story" movies were not enough (among other versions of the tale). Here we have yet another one, and it's definitely not as good as the 1997 musical with Brandy.

They could have made a modern, general musical with an original and beloved plot and familiar songs but nope. I think the only scenes that made me chuckle even a bit were the ones involving the mice post-magic. Otherwise, the filmmakers tried too hard to illustrate how the OG Cinderella was sexist by "going the other way" and portraying a headstrong and ambitious protagonist...but it was just unnecessary.

PLEASE DON'T TAMPER WITH THE CLASSICS, HOLLYWOOD.

Will+Angie fans, this one's for you! I REALLY wish this episode didn't end on a cliffhanger, since I happen to be a huge fan of this show and of the aforementioned pair (Will they-won't they suspense and all). The whole episode focused on their "relationship". There were several things going on, packed in within a 30-minute time slot, but were fairly simple enough to follow and thus, easy to enjoy. It was nice that any possible gaps regarding what occurred between both main characters from the previous episode were filled in by "No. Wait. What? Hold on."

If the ultimate fate of Single Parents depended on the quality and overall heart of this finale, then it probably would've merited *at least* a few more episodes to wrap things up. This show will always be one of my favorites. (#SaveSingleParents)