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The Young Victoria (2009)

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée

Time Out rating

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21 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

‘I will be good,’ Princess Victoria said on discovering she would be Queen. But, as things turned out, it was a touch more complicated. This sumptuous film has no interest in the ‘good’ dumpy adult Victoria, instead giving us a bildungsroman: after a stifling childhood, Victoria (Emily Blunt, above) must find maturity and independence – not easy with a controlling mother (Miranda Richardson), two scheming uncles and a snake-like prime minister (Paul Bettany). As in any traditional romance (and this, written by Julian Fellowes, is so trad its corsets creak), there are blips and the odd tear en route to a prince. That the prince, in this case, is Albert (Rupert Friend), her mother’s choice, just delays the inevitable.

Dignified and charismatic, Blunt gives great lip-wobble, and Friend pulls off the role of sidekick, but historical twiddling can’t render Victoria’s love life interesting and the only moving moment is the epilogue: 20 years’ happy marriage is more than most of us get, but 40 years of sorrowful widowhood is tragedy indeed.

Author: Nina Caplan

Time Out London Issue 2011, 5 – 11 March, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Ardie said...

Posted on Jan 21 2012 03:53 Call me a hopeless romantic, but I loved this movie! Rupert Friend is so handsome and is perfect for the man who would hold her heart forever. I have it on DVR now and watch it whenever I feel I need a lift. After they proposed to each other that was the biggest hug I've ever seen! And the inaguration ball 1st dance with Albert is perfect! Men probably won't like it but so what? It's sumptuous!

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Kairra said...

Posted on Mar 24 2010 17:45 I hadn't heard of this movie until it appeared on one of the Sky Movie channels. As a dedicated historian I look for accuracy in a film to keep me watching it, and I was pleasantly surprised with this one. Romantic period drama isn't normally something I would watch, but I couldn't tear myself away! The costumes were perfect, and I know the costumer designer spent time in Buckingham Palace, studying the actual clothing of Victoria, which she replicated in the film. The only innaccuracy was the fact that Albert never took a bullet for Victoria; although he did protect her from several assassination attempts.
As a reply to some posts that complain about the lack of authentic language or the fact that this film didn't focus on the world outside of the palace at the time, I would say: I think you misinterpreted what the film was about! This was about a young Victoria, a child growing into a teenage queen, who suffered the same angst and growing pains as any normal 18 year old. Can anyone here tell me that, at 18, if you had to chose between the men in your life or concentrating on Empirical matters that were generally handled by others, would you not chose to concentrate on your love life? This film epitomises what a teenager in a position of responsibility might prioritise on in their own minds; not necessarily what was correctly prioritised. It is her life from her eyes, and as such it plays out beautifully. If more films helped more people connect emotionally with people of the past, I honestly think there would be a dramatic increase in the general interest of historical studies.
The only complaint I have? It didn't last long enough!

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Dicky said...

Posted on Mar 11 2010 20:48 Wow ... what on earth possessed me to miss this feast of a movie when it was first released? Thinking back, it must have been the fairly crappy trailer with Harriet Walter talking with a pretty dreadful German accent – only ever equalled by Jamie Oliver’s mockney-cockney.
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I’ve only got round to this movie because of all the press it received when it won an Oscar for best costume – and very richly deserved I must say. There are some great frocks, trousers, coats, jackets, and a lot of gold.
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I though Emily Blunt was excellent as Miranda’s assistant in “The Devil Wears Prada”, so much so that I couldn’t see her as a young Victoria. I was wrong. She was excellent as young Victoria, as was Rupert Friend as Albert. This is a factually accurate movie, with great attention to detail. The photography is breathtaking, as are the palatial interiors and, in particular, a scene in the rain in Windsor Great Park. You really feel the control under which a teenage Victoria lived, and the relief of marriage and the relative freedom it brought.
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At knocking on 50, I was one of the younger members of the audience – and it has to be said the 200+ seat cinema was pretty packed, despite this film having been released in autumn 2009, and winning just the one Oscar. Probably more suited to the older cinema goer with an interest in history. An excellent movie ... well worth seeing. (Sorry Harriet, you were actually quite good.)

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John Cooper said...

Posted on Jun 22 2009 20:00 A better film than is suggested in the Time Out review.
Beautifully filmed and engrossing, it concentrates on character rather than ideas, and is the better for it. A conservative film in the best humanist tradition, it nevertheless highlights the young Victoria's `liberal` views and is a refreshing antidote to those who regard Britain's longest reigning monarch as staid and reactionary. The powerful musical score is effectively
sentimental, and there is feel-good factor about this film which is irresistible. The contrast between the ravings of ` silly Billy` ( William IV ) and the delicacy of
young princess is beautifully realized in the sumptuous
public dinner scene, where the King raves at his wife in front of a hundred or more guests. ` Families!` murmers
the Duke of Wellington . . Indeed `families` is very the much the subject of this charming tribute to royalty. We are shown the richest and most powerful woman in the world and her efforts to find love and happiness in marriage despite the intrusions of a treacherous world. Feminists - take note!Perhaps Nietzche got it right . .. `women have an instinct for the secondary role, even when the woman in question is ruler of the British Empire. The film ends with Lord Melbourne's wise advice to the headstrong young queen to allow Prince Albert his right to share her work, and Victoria`s line.
`Do not leave this bedroom . . I am your queen!` seems sad in contrast. In short , this film was much better than I expected, ( being an ardent republican ) and successfully elicited my sympathy for its youthful protagonist.

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sarah said...

Posted on Apr 02 2009 16:14 I loved this film! thoroughly recommend seeing it!

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Debz said...

Posted on Mar 30 2009 18:47 A brilliant film. Of course it's entirely romanticised, but I have to admit I was actually surprised at how it sort of stuck to the facts (apart from the infamous gunshot wound which no one with half a brain could possibly have imagined actually happened). I think it was an interesting character study of a queen few people bother trying to understand and, of course, the costumes and settings were to die for.

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MsA said...

Posted on Mar 29 2009 04:44 We went to see the film as a family. We loved the Elizabeth films and others of the same genre. However, this one was disappointing.
It was dull. The costumes and settings, though were fantastic. I said on the way home that it's either a huge credit to the costume and set department or telling of the script and acting that my mind kept wondering from what what being played out on screen to the detail of the scenery and dress.
It was OK, but I'd have been happier curled up on the sofa watching it as a TV dramatisation than I was paying for tickets to the cinema and taking the effort to leave the comfort of the sofa.
Far from great, but not terrible either. Wait until it's out on TV is my advice.

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Tony said...

Posted on Mar 24 2009 17:04 Great fun! It might not prepare you too well for your History finals, but it's a most engaging way of passing an hour or two.

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kaz said...

Posted on Mar 18 2009 18:59 Excellent film,I thought the acting was superb,especially Emily Blunt who is a far better actress than Kate Winslet! I

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usman khawaja said...

Posted on Mar 17 2009 23:11 the frenchman who directed this very well mannered ,innocuous and perfect drawing room soiree is not to be blamed at all as what do you expect from a script which is designed to showcase queen victoria as a martyr and a saint ,and prince albert is a perfect lover from one of the regency romances ,it is so sweet it actually succeeds at times to look like a historical version of a nursery rhyme as the european royalty appear more sacred then the pope and the dialogues and script appear to be recycled from every stoic and successful period drama about decency ,honour and righteousness that BBC has ever produced .
blunt as victoria and friend as albert look pretty and they dance a waltz as well as kissing each other fervently a few times but as for any sense of real passion or insight into their emotions or character you seem to be floating in a no man's land as if all the royalty did was talk in highbrow english while the rest spoke german and spied on each persistently and complain about trivial family intrigues as to who was the potential match maker and who was the regent compared to the sovereign .
it is so reverent it almost becomes irrelevant and at times you want to like it but end up just chuckling at some mildly humoured joke or a politely correct pun but as to
all real issues regarding socio-political debate or concerning the empire and its role in industrialising the globe or creating a havoc by colonising a quarter of humanity ,the makers have totally avoided any reference as if victoria only lived so she could choose between two viable suitors who have nothing else to do other then woo an 18 year old virgin queen .
a pretty but rather vacuous drama which might appeal to some ardent fans of british royalty but almost reads like a teenage regency romantic tale between two teenage lovers even if they are royal as if this is of any cosequence at all to the present era .

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Chloe Clegg said...

Posted on Mar 17 2009 22:18 A very engaging film with fine performances from Emily Blunt and Miranda Richardson, but it fizzled out towards the end and it was a shame there was such a dreadful schmaltzy song played over the end credits which was completely inappropriate and destroyed the mood of the film.

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Eleanor said...

Posted on Mar 17 2009 09:44 Excellent!!!!!

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Caroline said...

Posted on Mar 15 2009 09:06 The screenplay must have been written by someone with little grasp of Victorian English. I'm pretty sure Prince Albert would not have used the expression "You know".. ever.

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mary said...

Posted on Mar 11 2009 22:31 What a waste of time. Only the costumes were of note.
Scenery was good. Too many long gazes... must irritate some historians..Nuff said.

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Midge said...

Posted on Mar 10 2009 21:43 Thoroughly enjoyed the film, initially not to sure but glad my wife persuaded me to go...the power of a good women...Location shots were great, and it gave me a much better insight in to the early years of Queen Victoria s reign and all of the politics involved.Jim Broadbent was bril...my Kind of King...

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