We’re all familiar with the story of the princess and the pea. With “Once Upon a Mattress,” Disney takes the fairy tale and gives it a whole new twist in a film made for television.
Queen Aggravain (Carol Burnett) is a loving, doting mother. She only wants what’s best for her son, Prince Dauntless (Denis O’Hare) and that includes the very best wife. Therefore, every princess in the land must go through a test to see if they really are a true princess, otherwise they cannot hope to marry her son. The tests are ludicrous, but that’s sort of the point – the Queen does not want to lose her power, and if Dauntless ever were to marry, she would be supplanted by the bride.
Meanwhile, Sir Harry and Lady Larken of the court are in love, but there is a law: no one can get married until Prince Dauntless has found a bride. There’s just one tiny problem and it’s getting bigger every day – Lady Larken is going to have a baby. She and Harry must get married soon or she’ll be sent from the court in disgrace. So Harry sets off on a quest – to find a real princess for Dauntless to marry, so he can marry Larken. He has to travel a long way to do it, but he finally finds a real princess who has not yet been subjected to the Queen’s peculiar brand of testing – Winnifred, from the swamp lands (Tracey Ullman.) She’s not at all what the Queen has in mind, but she’s everything Dauntless could ever hope for, and so Larken and Harry decide to help her pass the test – by cheating, which is something Harry never, ever does, but things are looking grim.
I really enjoyed this movie. Carol Burnett is hysterical, as usual, and the musical numbers are fabulous. I didn’t know Tracey Ullman was so versatile. Zooey Deschanel is fabulous as Lady Larkin. It was so refreshing to see a new take on the old story. And even though Lady Larkin is pregnant out of wedlock, it’s not presented in a way that would be offensive to your family. I don’t think your younger viewers would even pick up on it.
Overall, I found this to be a delightful film and will definitely be watching it again, and soon.
This film is rated PG.
Related Blogs: