Royalteen (2022) – Movie Review

August 17, 2022

Royalteen is a Norwegian movie directed by Per-Olav Sørensen y Emilie Beck. It stars Veslemøy Mørkrid and Martin Grid Toennesen.

A European movie for young adults, with a slightly “different” touch that ultimately is a “same ol’ same ol'” young-love story.

Plot

Lena is a teen mom, who with her parents relocates to Oslo, and starts at a new high-school where it just so happens, she will be in the same class as the Crown Prince. One day during her morning run, she bumps into the Prince, she removes a tick from his chest, and cupid strikes his ineludible arrow of love…. however, her tumultuous past returns to haunt her and place obstacles in the way for royally true love.

Review

A YA movie that strikes us from the start as a TV feature film, and all that that implies. The simplicity of the plot, characters, and especially, its clear moralizing, which is expressed under the guise of coolness. However, Royalteen is stylistically a bit different, maybe even exotic, especially if one is used to Hallmark movies, and the exoticism in this case is the European element.

This summer we have already seen Dangerous Liaisons (France) and Under the Amalfi Sun (Italy), this time around it is Norway’s turn, with its spectacular nature, however that is not the main focus of this movie. Clearly produced to tell a teen love story, the storyline is actually quite well carried out.

The performances are good as well, convincing enough for the target audience to enjoy a romantic account, and find relatable traits in the characters that they will appreciate.

Being a contemporary piece, the soundtrack is to match. It is a really good soundtrack – although there are not as many songs as in the other movies mentioned above.

Filmed in a more naturalistic style than most of the currently produced movies, it comes across as more realistic, however the dubbing in English is sadly not up to par, as it is in stark contrast to the filming technique. An extra effort could have been made with regards to the foley – the background sound effects. The flat monotone voice overs and lack of said foley creates a dissonance in the viewer experience – a voice should sound different in an outdoors setting, such as the middle of the woods, than in an indoors scene.

It is a dramatic story, told with certain lightness and emotional distance that seems to be intended to entertain and, of course, not miss the opportunity to educate its audience, having that hint of cautionary tale about it.

Our Opinion

A YA movie that strikes us from the start as a TV feature film, and all that that implies – a certain simplicity. It is a dramatic story, told with some lightness and emotional distance that seems to be intended to entertain and, of course, not miss the opportunity to educate its audience, having that hint of cautionary tale about it. With all that said we predict that it will be quite a success with the young audience.