Why We Love Prime Video's 'Red, White, & Royal Blue' Adaptation!

When Red, White, & Royal Blue hit bookstores in 2019, millions fell in love with this sweet love story. Author Casey McQuiston created a world with complex characters, captivating dialogue, and exciting plot twists. Fans gushed about the book on Tumblr, TikTok, Twitter, and to their friends. The couple of Alex and Henry became beloved by millions, and fans can quote memorable lines without thinking. Now, that couple, those lines, and that story have been brought to life. The Red, White, & Royal Blue film adaptation came out on Prime Video on August 11, and readers of the books have been counting the days since the release date announcement. Many people want mainstream gay rom-coms, and this film accomplishes that goal. 

The reason why the book became so popular is because readers adored the story. It centers around Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States, and Prince Henry, a British Prince. The two men initially do not get along and try to avoid each other whenever possible. However, after a disastrous incident at Henry’s older brother’s wedding, the two are forced to pretend at least to be friends. While this is difficult at first, they eventually form a friendship-like bond. Then, what became a friendship turns into something more. The two begin a romantic relationship and try to see each other as much as possible. They insist it's casual, but what happens when they catch feelings? They both have a lot to lose if they reveal their relationship, but can love conquer all?

An important part of what makes this film great is the cast, which is filled with talent. The actors also fit the book descriptions really well. Front and center is Taylor Zakhar-Perez as Alex and Nicholas Galitzine as Henry, both of whom steal hearts and grab your attention. Zakhar-Perez had the fun Alex energy while being serious when he needed to be. Galitzine stole the show as the audience saw him slowly open up and take on the most emotional beats of the film. Some fans doubted their chemistry when the first images and videos came out, but the actors have proved those people wrong. Their romance is palpable, which makes for a genuinely engaging story.

In the role of President Ellen Claremont-Diaz, Uma Thurman is the leader the people needed. She is an excellent parent to Alex and shows why Ellen is an incredible president.

Another terrific ally of Alex is Rachel Hilson as Nora, the Vice President’s granddaughter. Hilson and Zakhar-Perez match each other’s wit, and she always has some great lines in her scenes. Hilson’s comedic talent makes her performance.

Sarah Sahi as Zahra, Alex’s aide, is also a standout. Sahi commands every scene she is in and showed why Zahra is important in Alex’s life. Sahi has power, which is why it was always fun to watch this character. There are also memorable performances in short amounts of time, like Stephen Fry as King James III, Henry’s grandfather. He is not on screen for long, and his character is unpleasant, but Fry makes this performance stand out. It is amusing to watch and shows why Fry is such a successful comedian. Overall, there are no bad performances in this film. Some characters have more to do in the book, but everyone gives this movie their all.

With the story being told from the point of view of the sarcastic Alex and the snarky Henry, witty jokes are guaranteed. This film is packed with hilarity, from the comedic dialogue to the hilarious events. The duo gets into many hijinks and awkward situations, such as ones involving cake, turkeys, and karaoke, that can make many audiences crack up. Many of those situations came from the book; others were fun additions to the films. While this may not be a slapstick comedy, the humor is still embedded into this story. However, while those jokes are essential, the film is more than a comedy. It is still a love story, and not a simple one. It is an enemies-to-lovers romance where readers, and now the audience, see them slowly fall in love. The strength of their feelings is what brings the emotions to this story. The audience can not help but root for Alex and Henry. While there could have been more build-up, this was a powerful couple on a big journey. In addition, they also have to deal with their own problems in the world, like coming out, deciding on a future, grief, and a lot more. The whole world is watching them, so everything they do matters. These emotions are portrayed well on the screen, as every character has to jump over a new hurdle. Combining comedy and drama effortlessly can be difficult, but this film does it. Being a First Son and Prince may seem glamorous, but a lot of pressure weighs on them. This film humorously and seriously gives an up-close look at Alex and Henry’s lives and their love.

It is always tricky when popular books turn into films. Fans expect a lot from those films, and living up to those expectations can be tough. Fortunately, this film did a decent job. Some characters and scenes had to be cut, which was disappointing. However, the film gets a lot of the book right, and it was interesting to see many popular scenes portrayed on screen. The book is richer and more fleshed out than the film, but that is expected when judging a 400-page book versus a movie that is only 118 minutes. The main struggle that the film deals with versus the book is pacing. The film felt rushed, and the story needed more tension and build-up and room to breathe. It could have been more of a slow burn to create more excitement when Alex and Henry finally get together. Their first kiss came too quickly, for example. There are also some new characters in the film, like the journalist Miguel, that felt unnecessary, and some scenes of traveling would have made sense in a different order. However, the film still does Alex and Henry's desires and emotions justice. There is no such thing as a perfect adaptation, but this film conveys most of the story authentically.

“History, huh? Bet we could make some.” This line that Alex says to Henry is one of the more famous ones from the novel and film. It is a great example of what makes this story special. The little moments of their love story and journey add up to something bigger. The two of them understand the strength of their love, and they become more confident about it over time. They were afraid at first to share their authentic selves with their world, and now their story has become important to the real world. While the film has its faults and could be paced better, there is still a wonderful tale at the core with a powerful message. Many people could learn something about the power of love and tolerance from this film. It may seem like just a cute love story, but it is much more than that. Red, White, & Royal Blue shows what people can do if they listen to their hearts and let their true selves shine bright. If you want that type of meaning from a film and to meet some fun characters, watch Red, White, & Royal Blue on Prime Video asap!