“Marrying the Crowns: Exploring the Buzz around 2023’s Anticipated Queer Royal Love Story”

Culture Movies Cinema

This gay, royal romcom is among the most hyped films of 2023 – is it any good?

By Jared Richards | August 11, 2023 — 5.30am

Forget Barbie, Dune: Part Two, or The Hunger Games prequel film. The most anticipated film of the year might just be “Red, White and Royal Blue.” This queer romcom, available on Amazon Prime Video, tells the story of the son of a US president and a British prince. Adapted from Casey McQuiston’s bestselling novel, the film already has a strong following on TikTok, with over 100 million views on associated hashtags.

The film revolves around the charming and bisexual Alex Claremont-Diaz, played by Taylor Zakhar Perez, and the bookish beauty Prince Henry, played by Nicholas Galitzine. Their love story is a light and frothy affair, filled with romance tropes like enemies-to-lovers and falling for royalty. As their relationship develops, they must navigate the challenges of keeping their love a secret. However, political intrigue adds a dash of spice to the narrative. The romance unfolds during a US election, and it also explores how Buckingham Palace would handle a same-sex relationship.

On the scale of queer coming-of-age stories, “Red, White and Royal Blue” falls into the heartwarming romance category alongside other recent hit adaptations like Netflix series “Heartstopper” and the film “Love, Simon” and its spin-off series “Love, Victor.” These stories offer a gentle yet affirming portrayal of queer love, where homophobia is easily overcome through true love, creating a wish fulfillment for many queer individuals.

Representation and Quality

“Red, White and Royal Blue” is a film that is important in terms of sexual and racial representation. It captures the zeitgeist and resonates with younger audiences. The film has the potential to reach a much larger audience compared to the book. However, representation alone does not make a work. Unfortunately, the main difference between this film and others in the genre is its quality.

The film is simply not well-made. It has a cheap made-for-TV sheen and lacks visual appeal. Despite its claim to be glorified fan fiction, it feels lifeless and staged. The empty backdrops, pointless exposition, and odd acting moments from the supporting cast detract from the overall viewing experience. However, the film does have its redeeming qualities, thanks to the chemistry between the two leads played by Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine.

While the film may not have the same level of care and attention as some other productions, it fulfills the brief of being a steamy queer royal romance. Those looking for a more polished and well-crafted experience may find satisfaction in Netflix’s “Young Royals,” a sexy queer Swedish series with a similar storyline.

Ultimately, “Red, White and Royal Blue” may garner rave reviews and generate buzz on TikTok, but it falls short of being a vital watch. However, it is important to note that queer love stories should come in all shapes and sizes, including cheesy second-screen ambient watches.

Overall, “Red, White and Royal Blue” offers a fun and entertaining experience with important representation, but it lacks the sophistication and quality that it could have achieved.