CASEY PHILLIPS: To most people, the thought of spending two hours slogging through a biopic about an English monarch that doesn’t involve a war probably sounds pretty unappealing. What director Jean-Marc Vallee’s “The Young Victoria” has going for it is a strong lead performance by Emily Blunt that makes Queen Victoria’s struggle for independence in affairs of love and state a captivating ride.
Despite strong supporting performances by some of my favorite Brits, including Paul Bettany and Mark Strong, Blunt’s Victoria stands out. The opening narration begins: “even a palace can be a prison,” and it’s fascinating watching Blunt’s Victoria develop from a pawn, if a willful one, in the game of European politics into a savvy player in her own right.
HOLLY LEBER: Blunt was accused of stealing the show in “The Devil Wears Prada,” but here, she’s firmly set in the lead position. She’s a versatile young actress and the buzz surrounding her regal performance is well-deserved.
Her portrayal of a 19th century British monarch, remains accessible to 21st century American audiences. Beneath the corsets, the royal politics, the courtly manners, Blunt’s Victoria is, at her core, a girl looking to find her place and her way in the world. “The Young Victoria” is a historical biopic, yes, but it’s also a coming-of-age film.