by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What do you get when you take a long-haired Pierce Brosnan, a mermaid, and centuries old French gender norms and throw them all into the same fantasy adventure? Something REAL weird. In The King’s Daughter, Sean McNamara (who cut his teeth on Disney Channel original content) gets to help this Chinese produced film. Honestly, you can take one good look at the film in action, and you will never question that it has Chinese sensibilities. The major conflict of the film is balancing individual moments with the needs of the greater good. But before we get ahead of ourselves… there are so many questions to ask.
Who even came up with the idea of this film? There is a small village of screenwriters who made this campy romp possible. The idea that King Louis XIV (with his majestic mane of hair) must find a mermaid to sacrifice to stop him from aging is so absurd to behave with. Then he has a long lost daughter who was locked away and is not trying to find genuine connection. Then you have plenty of back and forth between the doctor on staff and the priest because of good old-fashioned bars and drinks. But what if the sea captain who captured the mermaid has eyes for our leader? Throwing in a little bit of romance sure widens the audience appeal (even if it is not the most compelling).
But does the story really grab you along the way? The narrative at the center sees a young woman named Marie (Kaya Scodelario), who is brought to a castle to live after living with abandonment for years. Marie is trying to find her father (who we as the audience knows is Brosnan, right in front of her face). She builds this connection with the King, who is trying to balance the struggle of his original selfish intentions and a possible relationship with his daughter. Then you have the mermaid (who doesn’t do much on her own), which became a driving force for so much of the narrative. Many of the characters spend a lot of time speaking about this mermaid. One of the deeper thematic discussions of the film is between a doctor and priest (how ethical is it to kill this creature for the immortality of one man?). There are so many things going on in the film, and it can get a tad difficult to invest in most of them.
But what is the real highlight of the film? The cast! Brosnan is just having the time of his life with this role as Louis. He mugs at the camera and spills charisma at every turn. One of the most interesting additions in this film is William Hurt (who I had no idea was going to be in this film). He plays the priest closest to the king. He goes on a meaningful arc of understanding, which Hurt plays so well. He adds a layer of earnestness and warmth. His banter with his buddy Brosnan is also a delight in the film. Scodelario is a strong leading actor in the film as she brings charm and a strong presence. Benjamin Walker is interesting in the film as a pirate. He has a distinct look that stands out.
Is this fantasy adventure worth your time? Compared to other crazy fantasies like this from China, this one is a lot more focused and easier to connect to. It is still messy, but there are enough elements that feel organic and fun to enjoy. The campiness and the cast are enough to make this a fun ride… even if you are scratching your head a bit by the end.
Grade: C
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