The Princess Switch: Switched Again Review: Vanessa Hudgens Reigns Supreme With This Festive Sequel

It’s another holiday home-run for Netflix and this festive Vanessa Hudgens-led franchise.

The Princess Switch: Switched Again doesn’t quite strike the same level of magical Christmas chaos that the first film wields so brilliantly. That said, this sequel proves that Stacy and Margret still have plenty of doppelganger shenanigans left to captivate us.

It’s also proof that Vanessa Hudgens and her arsenal of bonker accents will never grow tiresome, no matter how far Netflix pushes her to go with this utterly insane premise.

The Princess Switch: Switched Again attempts to domesticate its peculiar premise in hopes the sequel can strike some kind of balance between the chaos of another princess-swap and the maturing relationships that were established during the first film.

And more than anything this sequel dedicates time to actual relationship growth for our two lead characters — something that is all but non-existent in this franchise’s royal counterpart, The Christmas Prince.

Kevin is still very much a hot piece of Christmas cake and Edward is still living his blissful life clueless to any princess switches that are taking place while he does whatever it is exactly he does off-screen.

However, their relationships with Stacy and Margaret are far from a fairytale when the story picks back up. These romantic dynamics are as messy and as complicated as the princess switch itself — and there’s a lot to love about a royal mess!

One can admire this film’s restraint when it comes to letting these hot people just walk away with their happily-ever-after.

There is also something rather noble in this film’s attempt to ensure not one of Hudgens’ doppelgangers is treated as less of a fleshed-out person just because they are apart of some grand scheme to trade equally privileged and ridiculous lives.

That being said, sometimes it feels like this film takes its duties a little too seriously.

The romantic elements and the larger plot are solid, but that dedication to the logistics of this sequel means something has to give, and often it is the silly princess-swap shenanigans that do.

I’m all for more Christmas movies where the royals actually take the role of ruling a fake European country seriously and the female protagonists are treated like proper leads, but for a franchise built on such a fun premise, I’d be okay with letting loose just a smidge more.

But forget all that because, above all, this sequel is a lot of fun. I dare say, almost as much fun as The Princess Switch.

And it’s all thanks to Fiona, this film’s introduction of higher-stakes conflict and Hudgens’ attempt to prove to the academy that she really can do it all.

Channelling her best Sharpay, Hudgens introduces a third royal doppelganger that is as vile as she is entertaining. Fiona with her platinum blonde hair, cockney accent, and expensive tastes is fascinated with committing treason in the name of a good princess-switcharoo.

Her brazen attitude and bold antics keep this film from slipping too far into its droll domestic drama. Her presence as the over-the-top third wheel is everything we need from this ambitious premise in its second go around.

Fiona is so fabulous during her time on the throne that you root for her to chew up as much of Montenaro’s scenery before the charade is up. I love all my royal doppelgangers equally, but Fiona embodies a chaos this premise has little difficulty running away with.

This film does good by its crazy premise, but it’s ultimately Kevin and Margaret’s crazy cute relationship that gives this sequel its beating heart.

As Netflix’s Operation Christmas Drop has proven, you can do so much right with a story and still fail by not delivering on romance. There’s no fear of that here, not when Kevin and Margaret can barely keep it in their pants long enough to make hot chocolate.

These two cuties have been through a lot, but that conflict only strengths our desire to see them triumph. Kevin can repeat Stacy’s mantra, “I’m just a baker from Chicago” all he wants but it does little to convince us these two won’t find a way to make things work after Margaret takes the throne.

I am enthralled by how easily they embody Christmas couple goals with their colour-coordinated outfits and constant heart eyes. They earn that messy airport marriage ceremony!

The stunning costumes throughout this film certainly leave an impression, but I would be lying if I didn’t say Kevin’s post-breakup look with the beard and sweat pants continues to stay with me.

Everything feels like a valuable addition to the story Netflix set out to tell in 2018, from a title that sounds like it’s mocking a Fast and Furious sequel to that incredible A Christmas Prince cameo.

I don’t know what I love more, seeing Rose McIver reprise her role as Amber or that Netflix does not care at all about the fact that Margaret and Kevin watched A Christmas Prince on Netflix during the first film, therefore making this big multiverse reveal even more ridiculous.

Vanessa Hudgens carries the weight of this sequel and it’s three titular roles with an ease that allows us to slip back into this story without being constantly reminded that one woman is acting out the film’s entire plot.

It’s no trick of the eye, this outlandish tale manages to duplicate the success of its predecessor while winning us over with its regal charm and renewed Christmas spirit.

Long live this magnificent messy franchise!

What did you think of The Princess Switch: Switched Again? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Princess Switch: Switched Again is streaming now on Netflix.

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