The Royal Treatment review: Laura Marano-Mena Massoud's palpable chemistry is a win for Netflix rom-com

3/5

Isabella (Laura Marano) owns her salon and isn't afraid to speak her mind, whereas Prince Thomas (Mena Massoud) is the ruler of his own country and is about to marry for duty rather than love. When Izzy and her fellow stylists are given the chance of a lifetime to do the hair for the royal wedding, she and Prince Thomas discover that taking control of their destiny requires following their hearts.

For a very long time, Netflix has been indulging in the rom-com space. Their holiday special titles have made it to the hearts of the people, while many broke their hearts for not being entertaining enough. Well, The Royal Treatment is somewhere in the middle but falls more on the former side. The film, directed by Rick Jacobson, is more along the lines of A Christmas Prince and The Princess Switch. Or can I say an amalgamation of both the franchise?

The film starts with a typical meet-cute set up for Izzy (Laura Marano) and Prince Thomas (Mena Massoud). She is touted to be one of the best hairstylists in New York (you won't believe it if you look at her salon). She has magic in her hands, and even her tongue is as sharp as her scissors, while she believes in calling a spade a spade. Izzy is hired to give a haircut to Thomas, who visits New York ahead of his wedding to hotel heiress Lauren (Phoenix Connolly).

The Royal Treatment has all the perfect elements of a "royal" romcom wherein a person is whisked off to a faraway land to experience castle life. The same happens with Izzy, who then becomes the official hair and makeup artist for the Royal Wedding.

She touches down in Lavania, where Prince Thomas is the Prince. Well, yes, the fictionalized place sounds similar to Genovia from The Princess Diaries and Aldovia from A Christmas Prince.

The not-so-good aspects of the film are its linear treatment. The film goes with the flow as there are no surprises about what will happen next. Nevertheless, it's the charm of Izzy that keeps the film going, as not only Thomas, but even the viewers, will be mesmerized by her.

The chemistry between Marano and Massoud is palpable and too cute for words. They steal the show with their presence. Marano is not new to this world of Netflix rom-coms. She has been a part of The Perfect Date. The actor also featured in A Cinderella Story: A Christmas Wish, which was released in 2019. In the same year, Massoud made everyone go weak in their knees with his performance as the eponymous Aladdin.

They both shoulder the film well by going to places that are unexplored for both and that become little worlds for them.

Marano, as a no-nonsense person, is not looking forward to falling for Prince Charming, but just someone who desires to take charge and make a change in the world. Well, she excels at it and it's captured well frame-by-frame.

So does Massoud, who nails the Prince Charming act like someone who doesn't wish to be a handsome man only to start a family. But someone who wants to make a reformative change in the land.

Another delightful character in the film is Cameron Rhodes as Walter, a homosexual butler, who will remind you of Héctor Elizondo as Joe in The Princess Diaries.

Talking about the good aspects is a tweaking of modernization that women take charge of in these rom-coms. Izzy is the decision-maker and doesn't make class differentiation. Several instances have been set up to create an evident injustice happening around them, such as working staff just being someone to take orders from and having to accept any brickbats thrown at them. Izzy changes the whole scenario, and it's just endearing.

Interestingly, even the character of Lauren is not shown in a negative light. She might get jealous looking at her Prince Charming being with a hairdresser every now and then.

Holly Hester, who wrote the screenplay, penned the standardized tropes, making for a perfect rom-com that doesn't show a damsel in distress.

Another good aspect of The Royal Treatment is the music composed by John R Graham. Marano has also crooned a few songs which are soothing to the ears and perfectly blend with the film's picturisation.

The Royal Treatment is not among the best rom coms to come out but it is a watchable treat.