'Prince & Me' a mechanical recycling of teen romances

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

THE PRINCE AND ME (PG) Two and a half stars (Fair)

How else to explain the seemingly endless parade of flicks about young Americans who are swept off their feet by handsome princes or who discover long-lost ties to a monarchy?

Recent films about the romantic challenges for the daughters of presidents are merely Cinderella films without crowns. And "The Prince and Me" is the latest to try on the glass slipper. It offers nothing new, unless you count the sight of the crown prince of Denmark milking a cow on a Wisconsin farm.

Prince Edward (Luke Mably) is a playboy who's eager to escape the responsibilities of his office. While channel surfing one night, he catches a "Girls Gone Wild" program about over-sexed college coeds from Wisconsin. On that basis alone, he sneaks off to the American farm belt to enroll incognito at a university in Wisconsin.

Once there, "Eddie" meets farm fresh pre-med student Paige Morgan (Julia Stiles) a bright, ambitious, socially aware young woman who dreams of eventually working for Doctors Without Borders in impoverished countries. Falling in love is not on the schedule — even when she discovers he's royalty.

Of course, they fall in love. But Paige isn't sure she's ready to give up her dream of doing good for humanity. Never mind that she could do oodles more good with the power and prestige of a crown on her head.

At any rate, "The Prince and Me" offers fairly standard college jokes and royalty snafus, along with the undeniable charm of a potent leading couple. The supporting cast includes heavyweights James Fox and Miranda Richardson (as Edward's parents, the king and queen), though you'll probably be more impressed with Ben Miller, as Prince Edward's resourceful and ever-patient valet. But the writing never rises above the level of a so-so TV pilot, and Martha Coolidge's direction lacks inspiration.

The filmmakers never convince us, for example, that a prince shallow and stupid enough to be guided through life by "Girls Gone Wild" videos can turn on a dime and become a wise head of state.

Rated PG, with mild innuendo.