critics consensus

An excess of earnestness and plot twists derail an otherwise charming family film. Read critic reviews

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Her Majesty Photos

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Movie Info

Residents of a small New Zealand town are eagerly anticipating a visit from Queen Elizabeth II after one young local, Elizabeth (Sally Andrews), begs the royal to come in a string of letters. For Elizabeth, the queen's impending arrival means everything, until she befriends a Maori woman, Hira (Vicky Haughton), who is campaigning against the queen's appearance. Elizabeth learns that Hira is still haunted by atrocities the British committed against the Maori people almost 100 years ago.

Rating:

PG
Genre:

comedy, drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

Mark J. Gordon
Producer:

Walter Coblenz
Release Date (Theaters):

Oct 6, 2001 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Nov 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA):

$63.7K
Runtime:

1h 45m
Production Co:

Silicon Valley Film Fund

Cast & Crew

Sally Andrews
Elizabeth Wakefield

Vicky Haughton
Hira Mata

Mark Clare
John Wakefield

Liddy Holloway
Virginia Hobson

Craig Elliott
Stuart Wakefield

Anna Sheridan
Annabel Leach

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Her Majesty

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (9)

It's a nice study of a young girl's happy obsession.

February 8, 2008 | Full Review…

Michael Booth
Denver Post
Gordon's nifty scenario juggles various aspects -- ordinary brink-of-adolescence growing pains, multicultural-tolerance lessons, suspense gambits -- with entertaining skill.

May 11, 2005

Dennis Harvey
Variety
Too earnest for its own good.

February 18, 2005 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Carla Meyer
San Francisco Chronicle
Her Majesty has all the makings of a perfectly charming family picture, and then the plot runs off the rails.

February 18, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Plots points and themes of imperialism and racism are hit on the nose repeatedly, until the audience takes a beating.

February 17, 2005 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

Robert K. Elder
Chicago Tribune
So jammed with silly elements that it makes one weary.

November 12, 2004 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

Connie Ogle
Miami Herald
Poignant story about tolerance and friendship.

January 1, 2011 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Common Sense Media Editors
Common Sense Media
An outstanding family film about a teenage girl in New Zealand whose openness to others and yearning for justice is inspirational.

June 27, 2007 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality & Practice
The story's conflicts come unexpectedly, and they are the reasons the film is as instructive as it is entertaining.

May 11, 2005 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

Bob Ross
Tampa Tribune
An enjoyable family viewing experience.

May 11, 2005

Gregory Weinkauf
New Times
Its amateurish elements often betray the relatively low budget, and there's also a serious lack of energy.

February 18, 2005 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Jeff Vice
Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
Her Majesty has worse problems than a lack of realism, namely mediocre direction and acting that's at the level of bad community theatre.

February 17, 2005 | Rating: 1.5/4

Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews