My name is Wendy and I live in Anchorage, Alaska. I am the proud wife of a soldier serving in Iraq, a Marine Mom (my oldest son is stationed in Quatico, VA) and I have 3 teenage boys still at home. I am a bit of a movie buff and a long time Disney-aholic. I love everything Disney.

I prepared for my opening night viewing of Princess Diaries 2 by watching my very own DVD of the first movie. I love that movie. It was well done and the story is fun. As a mom, I also really enjoy the fact that it is rated G. My sons and I have enjoyed watching that DVD many times over the years.

I attended the Wednesday, August 11, opening of Princess Diaries 2 bringing along with me 2 other Army wives, an Army mom, 2 girls ages 4 and a 6, and a 17 year old boy (one of mine) all with soldiers stationed in Iraq looking for some good entertainment. We all agree that Disney did a great job targeting the 4 to 14 year old girl population of the planet.

The audience was full of families, "tween" age girls on their own and a smattering of other age groups including a group of young teenage boys. (go figure?!) Our two girls loved the movie. They laughed and clapped their hands through much of the movie. They really loved the mattress surfing. The biggest ovation from the audience was for Raven who has a song and dance scene with Julie Andrews. Young girls through out the theatre screamed out, "Look! There's Raven!!" Raven and Andrew's voices blended well and the dancing doorman was adorable. I also thought Heather Matarazzo, who plays Lilly, did a very good job at stealing nearly every scene she was in. She was very enjoyable.

As an adult: My take on the Princess Diaries 2 would have to be that it did not live up to the first movie. Sequels often don't. The story had less substance and I never got a good grasp on what Genovia was all about. There were too many people with different recognizable nationalities and accents, including a lot of very American accents in this tiny European country near Spain. The costumes, scenery and sets were lovely. But unfortunately, the flow of the movie seemed more like going from one joke, gag or small scene to another with very little story line to hold it all together. Still, I did laugh quite a bit at many of these scenes. Unfortunately for the adult in me, the plot wasn't challenging and rather predictable.

As a mom: I enjoyed the movie. It was very sweet and cute. A perfect film for young girls and families. There is enough to keep the parents entertained and the children in the audience all had a good time. I would happily encourage you to see it, especially if you have girls in the target audience age group. They will enjoy it. On a scale to 100, my friends and I gave it an 80.

Other good films in theatres:

I have to strongly recommend "The Village" for everyone except probably very small children who frighten easily. I took my 13 year old son with me and he really enjoyed it. My Marine called to tell me he had really liked it, too. I loved it! I went to see it twice and enjoyed it both times. I particularly enjoyed Bryce Dallas Howard (who happens to be Ron Howard's daughter--think Richie Cunningham from Happy Days or Opie from the Andy Griffith's show). She was a delight! I'm definitely buying that DVD. I hesitate to say anything about this movie because I don't want to give away any of the twists, but I will say to those who are reluctant to go see this movie because it looks just too scary on the previews, its not nearly as scary as it seems. I think it is now my favorite M. Night Shyamalan movie.