Guy Lodge, Varitey:
“Sarah Gadon, Jack Reynor and Bel Powley charm in this brightly entertaining slice of imagined Royal Family history ||…] Why have a ballroom with no balls?” trilled Princess Anna in Disney’s 2013 smash “Frozen,” voicing the social (and perhaps sexual) yearnings of any number of repressed, restless princesses in the fairy-tale universe — as well as, if the delightful “A Royal Night Out” is to be believed, the young Queen Elizabeth II herself. Imagining the alternately raucous and romantic exploits of the future English monarch and her sister Margaret as they are let loose upon London for one wild night of Victory in Europe celebrations, Julian Jarrold’s brightly performed exercise in speculative history scores as a frothier, more feminine bookend to “The King’s Speech” — though it’s no less engaging or accomplished. With public interest in British princessdom at a convenient high due to a certain new arrival, this glossy Lionsgate release (less coincidentally timed to capitalize on VE Day’s 70th anniversary) should ride a dual wave of topicality to royal B.O. returns at home.” Read the whole article here.
“Sarah Gadon, Jack Reynor and Bel Powley charm in this brightly entertaining slice of imagined Royal Family history ||…] Why have a ballroom with no balls?” trilled Princess Anna in Disney’s 2013 smash “Frozen,” voicing the social (and perhaps sexual) yearnings of any number of repressed, restless princesses in the fairy-tale universe — as well as, if the delightful “A Royal Night Out” is to be believed, the young Queen Elizabeth II herself. Imagining the alternately raucous and romantic exploits of the future English monarch and her sister Margaret as they are let loose upon London for one wild night of Victory in Europe celebrations, Julian Jarrold’s brightly performed exercise in speculative history scores as a frothier, more feminine bookend to “The King’s Speech” — though it’s no less engaging or accomplished. With public interest in British princessdom at a convenient high due to a certain new arrival, this glossy Lionsgate release (less coincidentally timed to capitalize on VE Day’s 70th anniversary) should ride a dual wave of topicality to royal B.O. returns at home.” Read the whole article here.
Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter:
“Canadian actor Sarah Gadon (Enemy, Belle) has been cast as Elizabeth, the one who would get the crown and eventually be played at a very different stage of her life by Helen Mirren in The Queen. Like the latter film, A Royal Night Out offers a fantasy version of the current monarch, a wittier, smarter, more likeably vulnerable creature except that in this story she’s bridling against the establishment, incarnated by mother Queen Elizabeth (Emily Watson) and father King George VI (a near-unrecognizable Rupert Everett), instead of trying to uphold it as she does in the overrated Stephen Frears film.“
“Canadian actor Sarah Gadon (Enemy, Belle) has been cast as Elizabeth, the one who would get the crown and eventually be played at a very different stage of her life by Helen Mirren in The Queen. Like the latter film, A Royal Night Out offers a fantasy version of the current monarch, a wittier, smarter, more likeably vulnerable creature except that in this story she’s bridling against the establishment, incarnated by mother Queen Elizabeth (Emily Watson) and father King George VI (a near-unrecognizable Rupert Everett), instead of trying to uphold it as she does in the overrated Stephen Frears film.“
“Those expecting a King’s Speech redux should be warned: A Royal Night Out is more Notting Hill meets Roman Holiday – but by way of Dad’s Army. Bel Powley’s divine ‘P2’ (the family nickname) owes a debt to Barbara Windsor (“I’m so cheesed!”), while her mother (Emily Watson) could “murder a G&T” and her father, King George VI (Rupert Everett), is told to “sit down Bertie!”. With a nod to the future, the avid Tit Bits-reader P2 is even drunkenly delivered to Battersea in the back of a wheelbarrow; to say this is a broad comedy under-states its girth.“
About A Royal Night Out
The beautiful Sarah Gadon and Bel Powley, star as our Princess’ in ’A Royal Night Out’. IT’s V-E Day, 1945, people are celebrating the end of the war. London overflows with celebration and excess. Two teenage princesses Margaret (Bel Powley) and the future Queen of England, Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) are allowed out that night to join the party. For the first time, they are able to mingle with the teeming crowds, incognito… Directed by Julian Jarrold. With: Sarah Gadon, Jack Reynor, Bel Powley, Emily Watson, Rupert Everett, Roger Allam, Ruth Sheen, Jack Laskey, Jack Gordon.▶ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LionsgateUK
▶ Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LionsgateUK
The beautiful Sarah Gadon and Bel Powley, star as our Princess’ in ’A Royal Night Out’. IT’s V-E Day, 1945, people are celebrating the end of the war. London overflows with celebration and excess. Two teenage princesses Margaret (Bel Powley) and the future Queen of England, Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) are allowed out that night to join the party. For the first time, they are able to mingle with the teeming crowds, incognito… Directed by Julian Jarrold. With: Sarah Gadon, Jack Reynor, Bel Powley, Emily Watson, Rupert Everett, Roger Allam, Ruth Sheen, Jack Laskey, Jack Gordon.▶ Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LionsgateUK
▶ Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LionsgateUK
Production: (U.K.) A Lionsgate (in U.K.) release of a HanWay Films presentation of an Ecosse Films production in association with Quickbake Prods., Twinstone, Screen Yorkshire, Scope Pictures, Lipsync, Filmgate Films, Film Väst, the Northlight Studios. (International sales: HanWay Films, London.) Produced by Robert Bernstein, Douglas Rae. Executive producers, Mark Woolley, Peter Watson, Thorsten Schumacher, Hugo Heppell, Peter Hampden, Zygi Kamasa. Co-producers, Nick O’Hagan, Matt Delargy, Genevieve Lemal, James Saynor.
Crew: Directed by Julian Jarrold. Screenplay, Trevor De Silva, Kevin Hood. Camera (color, widescreen), Christophe Beaucarne; editor, Luke Dunkley; music, Paul Englishby; music supervisor, Ian Neil; production designer, Laurence Dorman; art directors, Tim Blake, Steve Carter; set decorator, Jille Azis; costume designer, Claire Anderson; sound, Bruce Wills; supervising sound editor, Srdjan Kurpjel; re-recording mixer, Kurpjel; visual effects supervisor, Sean Wheelan; visual effects, Filmgate Films; stunt coordinator, Glenn Marks; line producer, Dan Winch; assistant director, Neil Wallace; casting, Sam Jones.
