As the only legitimate heir of England's King William, teenage Victoria gets caught up in the political machinations of her own family. Victoria's mother wants her to sign a regency order, while her Belgian uncle schemes to arrange a marriage between the future monarch and Prince Albert, the man who will become the love of her life.
It's a muddled but plush experience overall, and if you're a royalist completist or a historical romantic, you'll probably have a decent time. As much as Blunt may have wanted the role, though, I'm not sure it suits her.
– Ty Burr,
Boston Globe,
25 Dec 2009
rotten:
I wonder: Was the director of The Young Victoria wearing a corset right alongside Emily Blunt? This is one tightly constricted period drama.
– Michael Phillips,
At the Movies,
28 Dec 2009
rotten:
The way this story is told is just basically by people reading letters in voiceover while you look at beautiful furniture.
– A.O. Scott,
At the Movies,
28 Dec 2009
fresh:
This may be the perfect shared entertainment for daughters just growing out of their princess phase and mothers with their own challenges balancing love and work.
– J. R. Jones,
Chicago Reader,
8 Jan 2010
fresh:
This Victoria is not particularly Victorian, but then she is young; and everyone wants a piece of her, politically speaking. Emily Blunt is lovely and strong-minded as the Young Vic.