Big costume dramas are always a crap shoot. Either you get a cast that’s talented enough to make the period come alive or you get the cinematic equivalent of a bunch of wax dummies standing around in museum quality clothes. The Young Victoria, the story of the first years of Queen Victoria's rule and her enduring romance with Prince Albert, falls somewhere in the middle. Emily Blunt (Sunshine Cleaning) is absolutely mesmerizing in the title role. She allows us to see not only the struggles that Victoria went through as she tried to learn how to rule a country (and not simply be the pawn of the men who wanted to rule through her), but gives an endearing glimpse into the life of a young woman falling in love for the first time. If the rest of the cast had done even half a good a job at bringing their clothes to life, The Young Victoria could have been a great film. Unfortunately, with the exception of James Broadbent’s hilarious work as the drunken King William, none of the actors in the film seem to have the energy to out-act their costumes.
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