Review of The Young Victoria (2009) by Dave C — 23 May 2010

As with most period pieces, The Young Victoria showcases some impeccable detail. While it would be hard to avoid the style and class of this era, after seeing the Elizabeth film I couldn't help but feel like I've even seen it portrayed in a more glamorous light. That being said, these are two different films trying to achieve two different things.

One of the criticisms I might hold is that I almost wished it had told me more about what Victoria's legacy was. It lays it out in subtext, but it could have been helpful to tell me with more than just words. The film is about Victoria's rise to power and about who she is as a young lady given the immense amount of responsibility handed to her before anyone thought she was ready. And so what we get is more of a character study, and a particular one of her at 18 years old while she is still discovering herself, rather than a dramatic retelling of her detailed accomplishments. We see her liberal and defiant attitude and stubborn disposition (in a good way) that allowed her to accomplish what she eventually was able to in social welfare issues among other things. But we don't really get a vivid and lasting picture of what her work actually became. And while this is specifically intended to paint a picture of her "rise" to power and not her "reigning" years, I couldn't help but feel like I wanted to see more of what she did during her reign.

Emily Blunt is a great actress. Her personification of Victoria was very compelling and really showcases her talents. She carries what could have been a bit of a plodding story, as The Young Victoria really is about her. The supporting cast is also very good all around. One of the central dynamics of the film is the love story, and Blunt does well at creating a convincing chemistry with her main attraction. The scenes between them, whether in fighting or infatuation, are some of the best in the film. They manage to really capture your attention and bring you in to the ongoing emotional drama. In fact, this is probably a very good film for mothers and teenage daughters as it showcases the romance, but also offers the back drop of a true to life good role model.

Overall I enjoyed this film. It didn't mesmerize me like Eliazabeth did, but for it's own dynamics I thought it succeeded, and if nothing else showcases the great talents of Blunt.