This book-to-movie adaptation is one I’ve been awaiting for quite some time. Let’s dive into my thoughts about the movie’s characters, plot, and pacing and wether or not I think this is a good book-to-film adaptation. This review will be spoiler-free.
I read Red, White & Royal Blue a couple of years ago. Having heard such good things about the book, I wanted to see for myself what all the buzz was about. The book was highly enjoyable; I loved its characters and storyline immensely. It was fun to read and had numerous funny moments as well as a plethora of cute instances. The combination of both led to me smiling frequently while reading Red, White & Royal Blue.
Before watching the movie, I chose to reread the book as well. I had been wanting to reread Red, White & Royal Blue for a while and started my reread just before the movie came out. In Belgium, the film was released on August 11th, which is about three weeks later than the release in the US. By rereading it, everything is fresh in my memory, and I can easily spot the differences between the book and the movie.
The casting for the Red, White & Royal Blue movie was pretty good. I think the casting for Henry was spot on. I did have to adjust to the actor chosen to play Alex, as I initially imagined him a bit differently. However, after seeing him portray Alex, I can definitely understand why he was selected for the role.
When it comes to movies and their adaptations from books, there is often a sense of anticipation and excitement mixed with a touch of apprehension. We can’t help but wonder if the film will do justice to the story that captured our hearts on the pages of the book. There’s always that little voice inside our heads, comparing and contrasting the scenes, the characters, and the essence of the narrative.
As an avid reader, I tend to have my own imaginary world built around the story, and deviations from that can sometimes be jarring. I hadn’t seen any trailers before I watched the movie, so it was quite confusing to realize that some of my favorite characters were either missing or were changed to fit the movie’s plot. I get that some of the changes were just more interesting for the film version of Red, White & Royal Blue, but that doesn’t mean I need to like them.
The plot remained the same, with minor little twists and changes in them. But our beloved Henry and Alex, whom we readers loved so much, were great. Their chemistry was good in the movie, and I loved their banter. I have heard different opinions on their chemistry but I personally thought it wasn’t bad. I’ve definitely seen worse. Of course, just like in any romance movie, there were moments that made me cringe. Some were the good type of cringe that made me feel all giddy, while others were… well, you can imagine. Especially in the beginning of the movie I feel like these characters needed to warm up to eachother and the chemistry wasn’t there yet. But I feel like it got better over time. The movie managed to capture a certain charm and that left me feeling warm and fuzzy.
Ultimately, the sweet and swoon-worthy moments of this movie managed to shine through, leaving an impression that made me want to experience it all over again. It’s a reminder that sometimes, stepping into the movie theater or curling up on the couch to watch an adaptation can be its own unique and enjoyable experience, separate from the book that inspired it. And Red, White & Royal Blue definitely captured that perfectly.
While there may have been a few points that didn’t quite align with my expectations as a book lover, I can appreciate the effort put forth by the filmmakers and the performances that brought the characters to life. At the end of the day, the Red, White & Royal Blue movie had its own charm, and it provided me with moments of joy and love, just like the book did. And in that essence, it succeeded in its own right.
I definitely enjoyed both the book and the movie, but each in there own way. There were quite some changes done to the story, some I liked and others I didn’t. But I’m okay with that and I want to see this film as its own piece of art! If you love this story I think it’s definitely worth the watch. You’ll find yourself falling in love with these characters all over again.
With love,
heavenlybookish 