I don’t know how I didn’t know about this. It’s Keira and Robin Hood: two great tastes that go great together. But I didn’t until it showed up on TNT or wherever TiVo snagged it from. And it’s really very good.
Keira plays Gwen, the daughter of Robin Hood, who’s an old guy now though still very active. Mom Marian is long dead – maybe in childbirth; I don’t remember – and Rob has given Gwen’s care over to Friar Tuck who now runs an abbey or something. Gwen loves her dad, but resents that he’s never around. Rob doesn’t do so much stealing and giving anymore, but he’s still very busy supporting King Richard in the Crusades and running back to England on the occasional mission.
Robin’s latest mission involves protecting Richard’s bastard son Philip. Richard is dying and rather than hand the throne over to Prince John, he wants Philip to reign. Philip is half-French though and no one's ever seen him, so it's going to be a tough sell. Plus, of course, there are Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham (deliciously played by Malcolm McDowell) who would love to see Philip dead.
Against her dad's orders, Gwen leaves the abbey, cuts her hair into a hot bob, dresses like a guy, and goes to work trying to protect Philip in her own way.
Let me get my one complaint out of the way, because I want to spend most of my time gushing. The fight choreography sucks in this movie. The sword fights aren't very exciting and the actors are all obviously pulling their punches trying not to hurt each other. It's high-school theatrical fighting at best. But other than that, Princess of Thieves is everything a Robin Hood movie should be. There's robbing from the rich, giving to the poor, sneaking into castles, confounding of authorities, lots of treachery by said authorities, an archery tournament, arrow-splitting, butt-kicking holy men, disguises, jail breaks, and ah! romance.
And don't think that it's all Keira either. It's definitely Gwen's story, but Rob and Will Scarlet never fade into the background like I kept expecting them to. They may be older, but they're never portrayed as anything less than a viable, deadly threat to Prince John's continued rule.
Philip is also an important character. Sort of the male Maid Marian to Gwen's Robin Hood. He's charmingly played by Stephen Moyer who reminded me a lot of Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You. And it's appropriate that I was reminded of teen romantic comedies, because there's definitely that quality about Princess of Thieves. Gwen is our heroine, Philip is the rich jock who also happens to be a nice guy, and there's even a geeky best friend whom Gwen either can't or doesn't want to see is completely in love with her. If that sounds like I'm suggesting it's a Bad Thing; you don't know me very well. I'm a sucker for a good, teen romantic comedy.
The following video contains spoilers, but'll give you a good idea of what you're in for in the movie. Except for the Michelle Branch part. There's no Michelle Branch in Princess of Thieves.
Four out of five Keira Knightleys.
(Hm. I just realized I should rate everything in Keira Knightleys.)
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