Netflix to show Mena Massoud’s ‘The Royal Treatment’ movie in January
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Netflix is preparing to show “The Royal Treatment” movie starring Egyptian- American actor Mena Massoud on January 20, the network announced, in a statement.
Massoud said, in a statement, that the film is a new step for more works that promote diversity, expressing his happiness that everyone around the world would be able to watch the work, including Egypt and the Middle East, through Netflix network.
The Royal Treatment revolves around Prince Thomas and Isabella who runs her own salon and is not afraid to speak up her mind.
While Prince Thomas runs his country and is about to marry for duty instead of love, until he meets Isabella and his concept of marriage change and he pursues of duty and decides to take the path towards happiness instead.
The Royal Treatment is directed by Rick Jacobson and starring Massoud and Laura Marano.
Review: A generic modern fairy tale in ‘The Royal Treatment’
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But for as generally appealing as Izzy is, Prince Thomas is woefully underdeveloped. It’s a good thing Massoud has some innate charisma going for him because his character is somehow both bland and ridiculous. He’s sheltered enough to feel like he’s never had a conversation with anyone who wasn’t in his immediate employ, but then casually mentions how he’s also been on subways before because he went to school in America. Massoud also makes the interesting choice to speak without any sort of continental accent - perhaps it was that American education, or perhaps it’s just an indication of the movie’s overall quality and attention to detail.
That said, the production is almost charmingly budget. They have, it seems, one drone shot of a castle that they use several times. Outside of the castle there are exactly two streets in Lavania. The “nice” street has a fruit cart and a dinky merry-go-round that wouldn’t pass at a Stars Hollow fair. The downtrodden one looks like it’s been pulled from a regional theater production of Oliver Twist. But again, this movie does not seem to be taking itself seriously. There is a would-be mother-in-law who snaps photos of Izzy getting too cozy with the prince and leaks them to the local paper, which gives it the front-page treatment with the headline: “Italian Tomato Seduces Prince.” The New York papers aren’t much better with the headlines: “Hot Prince Visit Makes Temperatures Rise in the City” is one.
Though there is some fun to be had both intentionally and unintentionally, “The Royal Treatment,” directed by Rick Jacobson and written by Holly Hester, is no “Princess Diaries” - not even close. Nor is it a “good movie” but that also assumes that it’s possible to judge “good” and “bad” in this very strange and specific kind of Hallmark Channel-style modern fairy tale. Like a drug store chocolate bar, it just is. It might not be good for you, but it’ll go down shockingly easy, give you a minor sugar high (and possible headache) and disappear from your memory just as quickly, leaving you defenseless for when the inevitable sequel comes along.
“The Royal Treatment,” a Netflix release available Friday, has not been rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. Running time: 95 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.
Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr: www.twitter.com/ldbahr
What to watch this weekend: ‘The King’s Daughter,’ Netflix rom-com ‘The Royal Treatment’
This weekend is pretty light on new films but a couple can boast of being a crowning achievement.
For those not diving into the virtual Sundance Film Festival, Pierce Brosnan plays French ruler King Louis XIV – with an English accent! – in a new fantasy action adventure, while Mena Massoud, who played the live-action title character in Disney’s recent “Aladdin” redo, is a prince falling for a New York City hairdresser in a Netflix romantic comedy. In addition Jeremy Irons stars as British prime minister Neville Chamberlain in a tense pre-World War II spy thriller while a new period horror flick centers on a lesbian romance and supernatural goings-on in 19th-century America.
Here’s a guide to new movies that’ll satisfy every cinematic taste, plus some noteworthy theatrical films making their debut on video-on-demand platforms and streaming services:
2022 movie preview: The 10 most must-see films, from ‘The Batman’ to ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
King Louis XIV (Pierce Brosnan) reconnects with his long-lost daughter (Kaya Scodelario) in “The King’s Daughter.”
If you need a fantastical escape: ‘The King’s Daughter’
The family-friendly adventure features Kaya Scodelario as Marie-Josèphe, a rebellious sort sent from the convent to the palace of King Louis XIV (Brosnan) to be his in-house composer. She’s actually his illegitimate daughter (he knows, she doesn’t), the king tries to marry her off, but instead, she falls for a sea captain (Benjamin Walker) who’s just delivered a mermaid (Fan Bingbing) that the king plans to sacrifice to gain immortality. It’s all a little much but the supporting cast is impressive (including William Hurt and Julie Andrews as the narrator) and real-life couple Scodelario and Walker at least give off some romantic sparks.
Where to watch: In theaters
Prince Thomas (Mena Massoud), who’s about to marry for duty instead of love, connects with Izzy (Laura Marano), a hairstylist hired for the royal wedding, in the romantic comedy “The Royal Treatment.”
If you need feel-good familiarity: ‘The Royal Treatment’
The modern fairy tale features ex-Disney Channel regular Laura Marano as brassy, good-hearted Manhattan stylist Izzy, hired for the royal wedding of Prince Thomas (Massoud) after a Big Apple meet-cute. She and her friends travel to the fictional kingdom of Lavania for the gig, Thomas isn’t sure about an arranged marriage to a Texas hotel tycoon’s daughter, and, well, it’s fairly obvious where this is headed. The film is sweet and cheeseball enough to watch if you can weather many unfortunate accents.
Story continues
Where to watch: Netflix
Jeremy Irons stars as British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who travels to Munich to broker peace with German leader Adolf Hitler in “Munich – The Edge of War.”
If you could use a historical potboiler: ‘Munich – The Edge of War’
Based on author Robert Harris’ fact-based historical fiction, the intriguing international thriller revolves around world leaders and a couple of accidental secret agents. In 1938, Hitler’s on the move and a conference is called in Munich to broker peace. English civil servant Hugh Legat (George MacKay) travels there as Chamberlain’s secretary to meet with his estranged college friend, German diplomat Paul von Hartmann (Jannis Niewöhner), who possesses a document that shows Hitler’s real intent is to conquer Europe.
Where to watch: Netflix
Stefanie Scott’s title character finds love and horror in 19th-century America in “The Last Thing Mary Saw.”
If you love a good inclusive scary movie: ‘The Last Thing Mary Saw’
The horror film begins with Stefanie Scott’s title character being interrogated while blood seeps down from her blindfold. And the narrative just gets way darker from there as the unnerving 1843-set mystery unfolds in regard to what happened to Mary; her secret girlfriend, housemaid Eleanor (Isabelle Fuhrman); and Mary’s devout family, who went to brutal lengths to stop the relationship. Throw in some freaky supernatural aspects, creepy visuals and one bonkers supper for an effective throwback chiller.
Where to watch: Shudder
2022 horror movies: Every scary movie you need to see this year, from ‘Halloween Ends’ to ‘Nope’
Amir Jadidi stars as a man trying to pay off his creditor for a debt that has him serving jail time in the Iranian drama “A Hero.”
Also streaming this weekend
For those needing to prep for Oscars, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi’s tense moral drama “A Hero,” about a jailed man (Amir Jadidi) whose act of charity goes tragically awry, arrives to watch on Amazon Prime. It’s on the shortlist for the Academy Awards’ best international film category.
If you need more Scodelario this weekend, her action horror film “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” reboots the video game-to-movie franchise and is now on demand.
Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller “Last Night in Soho,” which takes Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy back to 1960s London, is also on demand if you’re seeking a retro creeper.
Fans of the gone-too-soon sitcom “Happy Endings” can check out star Eliza Couple’s new dark comedy “The Estate,” in which she plays a wicked woman plotting to kill her rich husband with her stepson and a buff hitman, on Hulu.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘King’s Daughter,’ ‘Royal Treatment’: New films streaming, in theaters
‘Aladdin’ star Jonathan Freeman reflects on playing villain Jafar ahead of his final performance in Broadway show
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“I just try to remember there’s somebody in the audience who’s paid a lot of money for a ticket that they maybe couldn’t really afford,” Freeman said. “There’s somebody in the audience that’s seeing a Broadway show for the first time. There’s somebody in the show that maybe is having … a big problem and they need some escape, and they’ve decided to go to Agrabah for the afternoon or the evening.”
What’s New on Netflix & Top 10s: January 20th, 2022
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Happy Thursday and we’re now on the eve of Ozark season 4 part 1 hitting Netflix but there’s plenty to watch to tide you over. We’ve got three days’ worth of new releases now on Netflix so let’s dive into the new releases on Netflix and what’s trending in the top 10s.
As we mentioned, Ozark is finally coming back to Netflix tomorrow with the big new movie of the week being the World War 2 drama Munich.
Before we dive into the full list of new movies and shows on Netflix, here are our top 3 picks.
Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Director: David F. Sandberg
Cast: Anthony LaPaglia, Samara Lee, Miranda Otto
Writer: Gary Dauberman
Runtime: 109 min
In a highly unexpected license today is the 2017 horror entry in the successful Annabelle franchise from Warner Brothers Pictures.
The well-reviewed movie that holds a 71% on RottenTomatoes is a must-watch for any horror fans and if you haven’t seen the movie yet, here’s what you can expect:
“Years after their daughter’s death, a dollmaker and his wife open their home to several orphans, who soon begin to fear one of his eerie creations.”
The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman (Limited Series)
Genre: Documentary, Crime
Runtime: 49 mins
True-crime doc fans will definitely want to give this one a spin which has been getting rave reviews from viewers so far.
The documentary comes from Sam Benstead and Gareth Johnson and tracks down a conman who masqueraded as a British spy manipulating and stealing millions from victims.
The Royal Treatment (2022)
Genre: Comedy, Family, Romance
Director: Rick Jacobson
Cast: Laura Marano, Mena Massoud, Chelsie Preston Crayford
Writer: Holly Hester
Runtime: 96 min
Adding to Netflix’s huge collection of romantic movies today is The Royal Treatment which marks Netflix’s fourth major global English-language Netlfix Original of the year.
Here’s what you can expect from the new movie:
New York hairdresser Izzy seizes the chance to work at the wedding of a charming prince, but when sparks between them fly, will love — or duty — prevail?
Full List of New Releases on Netflix
Note: these titles were released on Netflix US between January 17th to the 20th.
11 New Movies Added
Annabelle: Creation (2017) – R – English
– R – English Blitz Patrollie (2013) – TV-MA – English – Caught between family pressures and small-time crime-fighting, a pair of bumbling cops tries to bust a massive drug deal and go down in history.
– TV-MA – English – Caught between family pressures and small-time crime-fighting, a pair of bumbling cops tries to bust a massive drug deal and go down in history. Damini (1993) – TV-14 – Hindi – Stymied by her in-laws while seeking justice after witnessing a rape, a new bride meets a troubled lawyer who helps her fight the case in court.
– TV-14 – Hindi – Stymied by her in-laws while seeking justice after witnessing a rape, a new bride meets a troubled lawyer who helps her fight the case in court. Dushmani: A Violent Love Story (1995) – TV-14 – Hindi – A couple’s forbidden love adds new fuel to the generation-spanning enmity between their two families, triggering fights, betrayals and tragedies.
– TV-14 – Hindi – A couple’s forbidden love adds new fuel to the generation-spanning enmity between their two families, triggering fights, betrayals and tragedies. Isoken (2017) – TV-14 – English – Single at 34, Isoken is maneuvered by her mother toward a relationship with a black entrepreneur but finds herself drawn to a white photojournalist.
– TV-14 – English – Single at 34, Isoken is maneuvered by her mother toward a relationship with a black entrepreneur but finds herself drawn to a white photojournalist. Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu (2016) – TV-MA – English – The life and times of iconic South African liberation fighter Solomon Mahlangu, who battled the forces of apartheid, come into focus.
– TV-MA – English – The life and times of iconic South African liberation fighter Solomon Mahlangu, who battled the forces of apartheid, come into focus. Mighty Express: Train Trouble (2022) Netflix Original – TV-Y – English – A sneaky duo has tricked the trains and taken over Mission Station! Can Flicker flex his skills on the tracks to rescue his friends and save the day?
– TV-Y – English – A sneaky duo has tricked the trains and taken over Mission Station! Can Flicker flex his skills on the tracks to rescue his friends and save the day? Potato Potahto (2017) – TV-MA – English – A divorced couple decides to continue sharing a home but their already-delicate cohabiting scheme unravels when they begin dating other people.
– TV-MA – English – A divorced couple decides to continue sharing a home but their already-delicate cohabiting scheme unravels when they begin dating other people. Shyam Singha Roy (2021) – TV-MA – Telugu – A budding filmmaker accused of plagiarizing his movie’s story dives deep into his past and discovers a transcendental connection to the source material.
– TV-MA – Telugu – A budding filmmaker accused of plagiarizing his movie’s story dives deep into his past and discovers a transcendental connection to the source material. The Royal Treatment (2022) Netflix Original – TV-PG – English
– TV-PG – English Triumph in the Skies (2015) – TV-MA – Cantonese – Three pilots navigate old and new romantic relationships against the backdrop of their Hong Kong-based airline employer.
8 New TV Series Added
Crazy, Lovely, Cool (Season 1) – TV-MA – English – For a group of charismatic undergraduates, the jolting revelations from a campus blog turn surviving university life into a serious matter.
– TV-MA – English – For a group of charismatic undergraduates, the jolting revelations from a campus blog turn surviving university life into a serious matter. DOTA: Dragon’s Blood (Season 2 / Book 2) Netflix Original – TV-MA – English – A conflicted yet courageous Dragon Knight must use the power of the dragon within to stop a deadly demon in this epic fantasy based on the online game.
– TV-MA – English – A conflicted yet courageous Dragon Knight must use the power of the dragon within to stop a deadly demon in this epic fantasy based on the online game. El marginal (Season 4) Netflix Original – TV-MA – Spanish – While investigating a kidnapping, an ex-cop sent to infiltrate a prison finds himself surrounded by dangerous felons who can’t know his real identity.
– TV-MA – Spanish – While investigating a kidnapping, an ex-cop sent to infiltrate a prison finds himself surrounded by dangerous felons who can’t know his real identity. Heavenly Bites: Mexico (Season 1) Netflix Original – TV-14 – Spanish – Welcome to a food extravaganza, a visual poem to Mexico’s foodie ingenuity and the quirky and delicious flavors that are worth the stomach aches.
– TV-14 – Spanish – Welcome to a food extravaganza, a visual poem to Mexico’s foodie ingenuity and the quirky and delicious flavors that are worth the stomach aches. Juanpis González – The Series (Season 1) Netflix Original – TV-MA – Spanish – A Colombian snob forays into the uncharted territories of dirty politics and true love while attempting to pass a test to inherit the family business.
– TV-MA – Spanish – A Colombian snob forays into the uncharted territories of dirty politics and true love while attempting to pass a test to inherit the family business. Midnight Asia: Eat · Dance · Dream (Season 1) Netflix Original – TV-MA – English – Night brings out the most playful side of Asia’s metropolises. This docuseries captures the food, drink, music — and night owls who shine in the dark.
– TV-MA – English – Night brings out the most playful side of Asia’s metropolises. This docuseries captures the food, drink, music — and night owls who shine in the dark. The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman (Limited Series) – TV-MA – English
– TV-MA – English Too Hot to Handle (Season 3) Netflix Original – TV-MA – English – On the shores of paradise, gorgeous singles meet and mingle. But there’s a twist. To win an enticing grand prize, they’ll have to give up sex.
Top 10 Movies & Shows on Netflix for January 20th
TV Shows Movies 1 Archive 81 After We Fell 2 Too Hot to Handle Brazen 3 Cheer Don’t Look Up 4 Cobra Kai Under Suspicion 5 Stay Close Riverdance: The Animated Adventure 6 The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman Just Go with It 7 Ozark Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 8 The Witcher The God Committee 9 CoComelon The Longest Yard 10 Emily in Paris Tides
What are you watching on Netflix right now? Let us know in the comments down below.