It’s Thanksgiving today, which means it’s time to ramp up the Christmas movies. And it’s time to check in with your family and friends. I did both today by reviewing the Netflix movie The Princess Switch: Switched Again, starring Vanessa Hudgens, Vanessa Hudgens, and Vanessa Hudgens. And by inviting my dear friends Todd and Mary to join me in reviewing this movie. But how did it rate on the Christmas scale? Let’s see!

Emily: Let’s talk about why we watched this movie, and then let’s talk about how this ranks on the Christmas scale.

Mary: I’ll start by saying that a couple of years ago I watched The Princess Switch and completely lost my mind over it. I was at home with my family, most of whom are obsessed with Hallmark Christmas movies, and The Princess Switch seemed like a nice compromise because it had Vanessa Hudgens but still had that cheesy Hallmark vibe. I ended up live-tweeting about it (but unfortunately can’t find the tweets now), and I felt like I was slowly losing my mind. It’s so...bad. But it’s also good?

Emily: You did blog about it too, and we’ll link to that! Which is why I wanted you to be here to talk about part 2 to me. And we asked Todd to be here because it’s his birthday. 

Mary: Todd has a deep love of Vanessa Hudgens, also. He’s a longtime High School Musical fan.

Todd: Also, importantly, I did not see the first Princess Switch and have no thoughts about that film whatsoever.

Emily: What!!!!

Todd: I know! Was I confused by the plot for this film? Yes! Was it because I hadn’t seen the other film? I doubt it! Did I think Vanessa Hudgens’ accent work wasn’t that bad? Yes, but that is mostly due to my aforementioned love and not any actual knowledge of accents.

Emily: I think if you enjoyed this one, you should go back and watch the first one. But then again, I feel weird recommending that movie to anyone because… well. Let’s just get into this one because that’s what we’re here for. 

Romance: 7.5/10

Emily: We get a couple of romance story lines in here, so that’s good. 

Todd: True, but are any of them...romantic? I give the edge to Margaret and Kevin, who at least get to visit a snowy park and project their feelings for each other onto snowpeople. But Stacy just has a wild plot that could have been solved in the first 5 minutes if she just talked to her literal husband!

Emily: Yes, I agree! I was going to say the storyline between Stacy and her husband is incredibly weak. I think a lot of rom-com-type movies perpetuate this weird concept that as soon as you get married, your love life is incredibly boring. Which is not the case at all. And clearly there are still some things this couple need to work on together. It would have been nice to see them confront that. More romance movies about married people, I say!

Mary: As usual, I think a lot of this film’s conflicts could be solved with, you know, a conversation. I agree, Emily, that Stacy’s storyline is the worst. It completely shocks me that she wouldn’t tell him she’s planning to switch again, and I’m not sure how they’ve stayed married for a year with all of their communication problems. Still, I thought Kevin and Margaret kind of had a sweet plot. Not sweet enough to make me think this movie was High Romance or anything, but it was nice. 

I think that this movie is going for that Hallmark vibe, and Hallmark movies have to be, as we know, very chaste with just one dry kiss under a gazebo.

Emily: So what are we rating this on romance? I’d say an 8.

Mary: I’ll say 7 for me. 

Todd: I would also say a 7. 10 for Kevin and Margaret, 4 for Stacy and Husband.

Emily: Since this is my blog series, and because I believe the romance was better than The Holidate, which I gave a 7, we’ll say 7.5. 

Mary: OH LORD, The Holidate. That’s a fair round-up! 

Morality: 4/10

Emily: What was the moral of this story? Don’t be a mean person because you’ll never be queen that way?

Todd: Don’t have a greedy cousin who is also your identical twin?

Emily: Morality was pretty weak, I think. 

Mary: Yeah, not much to go on. Is there a lesson to be learned here? Maybe...talk to your partner? Communicate more? 

Emily: I’m going to give this one a 5. 

Todd: Honestly, that feels generous. I’d say a 2 or less. The only moral seems to be that if you can switch places with a stranger who looks exactly like you, then you should, which is hyper-specific.

Mary: Very generous, but it did feel like it was trying to have a moral core, so in the spirit of Christmas I will also give it a 5. 

Emily: To make Todd happy, let’s say 4. 

Music: 7/10

Emily: I didn’t remember any of the music, but you both said there were some bops, so I’ll let you both talk about the music. 

Todd: There are songs, but most of them were new Christmas songs by beloved artists like Sia or Kelly Clarkson. Still, I want to hear some classics, not whatever this was.

Mary: Okay, this is my time to go to bat for this movie. A lot of the songs seemed to be written specifically for the movie, or at least sourced for the movie. I mean, how many folks are out there listening to Sia’s Christmas music? I’d wager not a lot. That being said, I like a new Christmas song now and then, and the newer, poppier music seemed to fit what was happening. This isn’t just Christmas, it’s hip Christmas. I give music a 7.

Emily: As much as I love classics, I do like when movies include original Christmas music as well. I’m good with 7. 

Christmas Spirit: 6/10 

Todd: At one point, Stacy mentions that her grandmother made her a tinsel sweater, which seems to be a lie made up on the spot because she is flustered by the fact that Margaret might have moved on to a new guy. Also, they decorate the castle(?) a lot. And Kevin and Margaret decorate what seem to be already existing snowpeople. Still, not a whole lot of Christmas Spirit here, for me, except maybe the old man who prevents Kevin and Olivia from making their flight on time.

I’d give Christmas Spirit a 5? I really feel like I am being super harsh on this film, but I also have no regrets about that.

Mary: Todd is being a grinch! Bah Humbug, he says. (Todd: Bah Hudgens!)

Sure, this movie isn’t going over the top with Christmas stuff, but it felt Christmas-y enough for me. The Princess Switch had a character (who makes a cameo in the sequel) that basically embodies Christmas Spirit and provides a very ~seasonal~ feel to the whole film. 

Emily: Okay but the “cameo” was also my least favorite part haha.

Mary: Oh for SURE. It was weird. This movie takes place at Christmas and there are TONS of gorgeous decorations in the palace (for who??). There’s also a lot of talk about helping orphans. Lol. 

Emily: I was also so confused about the decorations and the orphans. When they were done decorating, it was an assault to the eyes. Everything was covered in lights and Christmas ornaments. Like… I know this is a royal palace or whatever, but tone it down? 

Mary: Like, please, Vanessa Hudgens has to LIVE here. It can’t be Christmas overload all throughout the house! However, my one caveat is that I’m in love with that kitchen and want to live there. I give Christmas Spirit a 7. I felt it, but it felt off, too. 

Emily: I’ll split the difference and say 6.

Warmth: 8/10

Emily: I don’t know… there’s something about Vanessa Hudgens. She’s not a good actress and her British accent is terrible, but she somehow exudes warmth? 

Mary: I totally agree. I wouldn’t say she’s a good actress here, and I wouldn’t even speculate that ALL of that bad acting came from an equally bad script (though the script wasn’t doing anyone any favors). That being said, this is just a cozy Christmas movie. I think that Vanessa Hudgens is definitely a warm presence in the film, and for whatever reason I believed in all her Christmas cheer. Her personal warmth, paired with all the stunning decorations and happy ending, really made me feel like grabbing a hot cocoa and getting cozy and cuddly. I say I give it an 8 for warmth, somehow. 

Todd: Yeah, I agree. Mary and I were speculating about what would happen in the inevitable Princes Switch 3: Re-Switched, and I said they’d have to find a 4th Hudgens clone out there, because these movies seem to really live or die by whether or not she is on the screen (and she is on-screen for most of this film). Despite the fact that Stacy and Margaret are (somehow) not related, there does seem to be a genuine bond between them that can only be forged by switching lives with someone else. I say an 8 for warmth as well.

Emily: I’m good with 8! 

Mary: Emily, how does this stack up on the patented scale??

Emily: Let’s seeee....

32.5/50 = 65% -- Not great.

Any final thoughts about this movie?

Mary: Gosh, I thought it would be better than that! The scale doesn’t lie, though, and this seems fair. I mostly wonder what the third installment (because you know there’ll be one) will be like.

Emily: Y’all were harsh graders. Todd, predictions for the third movie?

Todd: So many predictions: there will be a 4th Hudgens. She will have red hair and maybe be a long lost relative of Stacy? Fiona will break out of prison or get pardoned or something and hijinks will ensue! Stacy’s husband will never get a kiss even though it is all he wants.

Emily: Well once you get married, you don’t kiss anymore, Todd. ANYWAY THANKS FOR JOINING ME! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Todd: Happy Thanksgiving!

Mary: Yayay! Thanks for having us! <3