History, Huh?: Red, White & Royal Blue (The Movie, The Book, And Everything in Between)

Okay so you know that I had to jump on this movie and watch it as soon as possible and I’m only now getting the time to do so, and boy, am I glad I finally got around to it.

The book

Red, White & Royal Blue was one of my favorite reads a few years back. I was absolutely obsessed with Alex and Henry and how they’d defied their social norms to be their true selves. They gave me confidence and a sense of self-love that I hadn’t really gained from other books before. For the book, Red, White & Royal Blue, I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, the characters, and the romance involved in the book and I’ve reread it a few times since writing the review a few years back. 

The movie

In terms of the movie, I was afraid that it wouldn’t live up to the hype that surrounds the book. Don’t get me wrong, my hopes were high, but I’d seen both the actors that play Henry and Alex in previous roles and I couldn’t quite see how they’d fit together. I mean I could see how the actors could actually seem like their characters, but not how they would work together, as a joint pair. 

I was pleasantly surprised. Don’t let me sway you from thinking that this movie wasn’t amazing, it was almost exactly like the book. We got some of our favorite quotes, the best moments of Henry and Alex’s relationship, the hilarious aspects of their secrecy from the world, but…it was a little cringeworthy too. 

I didn’t not like the movie, it was actually really good. I loved how it portrayed Alex and Henry and how significant their romance would be to the world. How important it would be that a significant figure could come out as bisexual or gay and still receive love from their people. This was such an important aspect of the book that I’m so glad was portrayed within the movie. And then there were the scenes of the museum and scenes at the Polo match. It was a pretty accurate adaptation from the book. The only problem that I had was that it almost seemed too fake to be real. 

Their romance in the book was so genuinely intense and raw. It was Henry being vulnerable and Alex comforting him and vice versa. It was sharing feelings and hardships and difficulties and each of them helping to comfort the other in times of need. 

The movie had this but in a different way than I was expecting. The movie portrayed the two as a force to be reckoned with, but it almost seemed like Alex was more in it than Henry? I mean Henry barely showed his attraction to Alex, which of course, is way harder to portray when you can’t read a characters inner thoughts, but his actions (while the same as the books), seemed to be different in the movie. 

There were also little bits and pieces that just had me not feeling the movie. I mean again, don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy it. I’d watch it again and I’d probably still enjoy it, but as someone who is completely in love with Alex and Henry’s original story, it’s hard not to pick up on the tiniest details that set it apart. 

So, is it worth the watch?

I’d say that for lovers of Red, White & Royal Blue, be aware of the fact that it’s not going to be the exact same. While the story is pretty similar, the vibe I got was more upbeat, less intense than the book was and that’s what set me apart from it. 

It’s worth the watch for sure, it’s funny, it’s exciting, and it’s kind of the best type of summer movie. It’s romantic and adorable and it had me swooning over a prince and the son of the president. 

Ratings

Movie: 3.5/5⭐️

Book: 5/5⭐️