IT'S SAID that every young girl's dream is to be a princess and fall in love with her Prince Charming.

The fairy tale becomes reality, albeit a saccharine and highly improbable Hollywood version of it, in The Prince & Me.

Once upon a time: Edvard Valdemar (Luke Mably), the Crown Prince of Denmark, feels suffocated by the responsibilities of his birth and is reluctant to accept his destiny as the next king.

Keen to experience life away from the rigid constraints of his parents, King Haraald (James Fox) and Queen Rosalind (Miranda Richardson), Eddie heads off to America to pursue his favourite pastime: women.

Accompanied by his loyal, sardonic manservant Soren (Ben Miller), Eddie enrols as a student at the University of Wisconsin where he immediately falls for model student Paige Morgan (Julia Stiles), who is working hard towards her goal of becoming a doctor.

At first, she rebuffs Eddie's advances but Paige gradually falls for his charm and chivalrous manner.

They enjoy a magical few days together with Paige's parents and siblings on the family farm.

However, when the paparazzi finally catch up with the prince and expose his true identity, Paige is forced to decide whether she has a future with a man whose entire identity has been a carefully constructed charade.

The Prince & Me treads a familiar and predictable path.

Ironically, the film's obligatory feel-good ending doesn't fit this Cinderella story. Here we have one fairy tale that would be far more satisfying without the happy ever after.

Rating 6/10