Plot-wise, this was a common example of the royal/commoner romance plot. Danica McKellar is a new author with one successful novel who is being pressured to submit her second romance novel per her contract. Predictably she has writers block and is given the opportunity to be a caretaker at a remote lodge in the mountains for some peace and quiet. No, it's not haunted and she doesn't turn into a homicidal maniac. Sorry to disappoint. The owners are European and haven't been there for years. All she has to do is knock the icicles off the eaves, take care of the furnace, and find her inspiration to honor her contract. The owner shows up unexpectedly and it's a prince with his two minions.
This was watchable thanks to Neal Bledsoe who played the prince. He was very attractive and had a lot of charisma. He also had a personality, starting off snooty and entitled and loosening up slowly but surely while becoming enamored of Danica. The two actors had a nice rapport going throughout. Danica did good in this one. Despite the usual, and I do mean usual, roadblocks, it all proceeds to a happy ending and I liked the resolution to the "how can an American romance novelist find happiness with a Concordian King" dilemma.
The Winter Palace
2022
Action / Romance
The Winter Palace
2022
Action / Romance
Plot summary
A novelist with a severe case of writer's block is given the chance to finish her book by becoming the caretaker at an empty winter chateau. She's surprised when the property's owner, a prince, decides to come stay - with his royal entourage. She's even more surprised to learn that her job as the house caretaker includes taking orders from the royal group - while she attempts to finish her book.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
Surprisingly Watchable
Beautiful location, lousy script.
Most TV movies involving royalty are always fake, with fake countries, fake accents, fake protocol and poor acting and this one is no exception. The writers never do any research to make the plot and dialog sound authentic, these writers are a prime example.
Never been a fan of Danica McKellar, she plays the same character in every film she's in with the same expressions, gestures... The rest of the cast aren't great. I've seen Neal Bledsoe in other movies and he was better.
Fairy Tale
If you take this movie as purely a fairy tale with some humor thrown in, then the story itself is decent. In that vein, I thought that this "royal" movie was a bit further from any reality and closer to fantasy than most. Even the relationship between Emily and Prince Henry seemed unreal to me and that's where a movie like this should be a little more believable.
The final scene would have been much better without an overly long cheesy speech. There was one really excellent line by Edwina.
The sets seemed a little cheap and given the presumed location there should have been more good scenery.