I love how you pointed out how full Alex’s life is. His scenes are always filled with community and support, and in contrast, Henry’s life feels empty and cold in his palace in almost all his solo shots because he’s often alone (aside from some moments with Bea). Really shows Henry’s distance with his family. The director put a lot of heart into the filmmaking ❤ there are a lot of thoughtful subtle nods (I.e the wall behind Alex having bi flag colors when he admitted he was into men with Nora, Schubert being an allegedly gay musician, David and Jonathan (the dogs names) was theorized to be queer representation in the bible) and thoughtful casting (Stephen Fry who’s an openly gay man plays Henry’s grandpa, Amy the secret service member is played by a trans actress). The move has so much heart ❤
The sex scene was so tastefully and respectfully shot. I love that it normalized the depiction of love between two men. I'm a heterosexual woman, married to a man, but I believe we need more scenarios like this in mainstream media. All love is beautiful and deserves to be appreciated and accepted.
Same here! And the more we get this the more we get used to seeing queer people in love scenes, the more normalized it becomes. So, we definitely need more 🤭
Love how you responded to “I’ll break the sound barrier for you”. It’s a call back to Henry doing karaoke and singing the lyric, “I’m gonna make a supersonic man out of you”, pointing to Alex and Alex making a hand motion like he caught what Henry was singing to him.
Great reaction, Kofi! Stephen Fry who played the king is a very well known British actor. He’s gay himself and known to be very proud and outspoken regarding queer rights. So, it was quite the surprise & kind of an easter egg to see him in the role of the king. Overall, the king’s character (queen in the book) is kind of toned down in the movie, but you’ll see the difference once you read the book.
Oh Kofi.....I haven't laughed this much! I love you, your energy, your vibes! You stole my heart as much as this movie has. I've watched this movie every single day since Aug 18th, I am obsessed with those two and their love. 🫠🫠
When henry jumps in the lake, you'll notice his hand is on his heart, that is because in the book in one of the emails he said "if someone like that (referring to the first time he saw alex) ever loved it would set me on fire"
love love loved every second of your commentary!! felt like a facetime call with a bestie and i loved that! thanks for enjoying alex and henry’s story as much as we all did !
I'm here because I finally watched this movie a couple of days ago and instantly became obsessed (I immediately read the book and adored it), and I immediately subscribed because I LOVE your reaction! It felt like we've been friends forever and you let me watch you watch this. Love!
Always great to see new people discovering this movie. If you're interested, a couple of deleted scenes have since been released - Cornetto at Kensington and the Fireside Chat. Would love to see your reaction to them. 🧡
I subscribed as I really enjoyed your commentary and can’t wait to watch more. You have an infectious laugh and warmth. The book is good even though I think they made some good changes in the movie, but the emails are so important as they portray the growth of their feelings for each other and the struggles. Have fun reading.
I love this movie!!! I have watched it 4 times in 1 day and I cannot stop. The book and the movie are great. The chemistry between Taylor and Nick is off the charts!!! I laughed, I cried. Everytime I watch it I see more details and nuances that I missed. The love making scene was perfection!!! Never seen anything like that before. I have now seen it 47 times, I am not kidding! It just gets better and better!!! my new comfort movie Also have prime now for a whole year only for this movie🥰
There are such iconic lines. “I’ll break the sound barrier for you” - “occasionally vulgar… but genuine” - “let me disabuse you of the idea that your contribution to this conversation is in any way welcome. You are party to this problem, not its solution.” - “You better act like the sun shines out of his ass and you have a vitamin d deficiency” “As for you, little lord fuckleroy, I want you munching on a crumpet by sundown and if anyone sees you leave this hotel I will brexit your head from your body.” “I want you to have a part of me until you can have all of me again” “your body comes to me in my dreams and makes every bone in my body ache” “forced conformity of the closet cannot be answered with a forced conformity of coming out” “where’s the threat? Do I need to clear the room?!” “History, huh? Bet we could make some.” “I will not trade one prison for another” “he’s like the first fifty rows of a lady gaga concert kinda gay” “right, because closeted princes are much safer” “you’ve been yucking my yum all day” “I have the first son in my office mooning over the Prince like a cow in labour” These are just some favourite bits of writing and dialogue off the top of my head. And then there are additional details in the performance that stick out to me. The way Henry looks at Alex when he leaves the room the first time. Alex’s expressions of melting with happiness every time after Henry is out of view (like on the plane back or after he leaves the room the first time). Henry grabbing his hair and Alex kissing him back enthusiastically. The way Henry looks at Alex when they shake hands outside the hospital. The way Zahra becomes increasingly and rapidly annoyed by Alex’s “mooning” over Henry in the office. The fact that Henry breaks off Alex’s kiss in the red room with a trained self-defends reactive manoeuvre. The fact they they didn’t shy away from showing their kind of frantic lust for each other in the red room and the hilarious over acting flower arranging and book shelves counting haha. The fact that they zoomed in on Henry’s butt while on the horse, editing in and out of their make out scene in the shed. The constant visual references to phallic landmarks (including the Eiffel Tower while discussing intercourse the first time as well as Nelson’s column after their first make out). That entire sequence of them texting was just so creative and everyone agrees. Oh! The fact that they have their slow eye looking moment at the party while everyone is dropping low to that song. Oh jeez and how Alex grabs and Henry’s hips and gets drunkenly close, makes me nervous every time. The palace gardens are also so pretty and I’m jealous of Alex’s closet space. Also, the way Alex tells Henry “you’re late” and tries to close the door on him is really hot somehow lets not look into that too much. These were some of my favourite little moments and details in the movie. Oh! And something I haven’t seen anybody mention at all, the way they both roll TOWARDS each other when the cake comes down on them, not away from each other. The little innuendo of cream on Henry’s suit, and picking it up from the cake together with the alcohol. The fact that the closet they were pushed into is actually quite big and they still somehow land on top of each other and pressed up against each other clumsily. I’m glad you’re going to read the book because the emails are so good, and the “betrayal” is much more realistic than a singular self serving gay journalist with a penchant for hacking emails. Having said all that, there are some things I prefer in the book (specifically where the core of responsibility and achievement lies in the campaign - in the movie it was basically stripped away from the women), but my favourite lines were definitely improved and perfected in the movie.
I jumped back a bit when I clicked the see more button and it was a whole essay lol, but still your thorough analysis is everything. The sound barrier quote, part of me/all of me, rope tied to me chest were some of my faves. Wait elaborate more on the Alex "you're late" remark to Henry. (alluding to him being like a callgirl lol?) I can't wait to watch again to notice the things you mentioned like the cake seperation and such. Yes, the villan as depicted in the movie wasn't the best, I'm sure the books flesh it out more. Great movie. Glad you enjoyed the video as well!
@@KOFI_ESCAPES Haha yeah I do tend to go on and on. I mean the way Alex said “you’re late” and closed the door in a kind of mean way was kinda hot, and I’m a lesbian who likes niceness, so that’s a bit random for me. I meant that I don’t want to look into that too much, why that was attractive to me haha. But I wouldn’t say it alludes to the call girl thing, more so it being an extension of them teasing each other? I don’t usually like teasing that much either but their banter is so good that it more than makes up for it!
This must be your best reaction yet, Kofi ! You hit on all the points that make this movie such a hit. The lines, the acting, the art direction. Very low budget (lots of green screen and alamy-type shots) but inspired, daring yet tasteful and superbly acted. FYI Nicholas Galitzine (who apparently is straight) has acted in over half a dozen movies playing queer roles. Among those, I highly recommend Handsome Devil.
Thank you andre! Glad you enjoyed it. ✨ Lol at the low budget! Yea some of the green screen was questionable but overall it was great. I saw Handsome Devil a loooooong time ago. I remember liking it. Good for Nicholas.
This is the FIRST TIME I've noticed that NICHOLAS GALITZINE WAS LAUGHING/SMILING at 1:28. I think he couldn't contain himself while filming that scene 😂😂
YOU NEED TO READ THE BOOK!!!! So good!!!! A lot was left out. I loved both the book and movie but the book really tied things together; like u said. And after you read it we need a follow up video, please and thank you!
Loved your reaction!!! Not sure if you had a chance to read the book. But if you do… I highly recommend the Collector’s Edition that includes the Henry chapter. These blokes may just get married and live happily ever after 🎉
Amazon limited the movie to just two hours, and likely no chance whatsoever of making it a series. The book is over 400 pages. The director said he wanted to focus on the relationship between the two guys, and pare down the other subplots in order to make this work. The author participated in the making of this movie. From all the background info, everyone involved really seemed to respect the book, so I'm sure everything left out was very painful. Miguel was not in the book. In the movie, his character neatly combined these other elements that drove the story into one neat package easy to understand. I find it ironic that contrary to his motivation, his leaking the TX memo got Ellen to implement it - thus saving her presidency, and his leaking of the emails wound up making it possible for the two lovers to live openly. Alex had a sister in the book, June, and the movie combined her character with Nora's. Even so, Nora gets very little screen time, so would have really diluted it if these bits had to be spread across two characters. Bea, Henry's sister, had a backstory of a drug addiction, but again, trying to squeeze that in would have confused things. I saw the movie first so reading the book afterwards was like filling in the blanks. For readers awaiting the movie, there was a lot of disappointment in the changes that had to be made. Some are quite angry because in our world, an hour still only contains 60 minutes. After watching the movie the first time, I rewatched it again. And again. Then read the book, while continuing to rewatch the movie, along with every clip, blooper reel, interview and reaction videos like yours. I'm sure I will return to watch and share your reactions more times in the future. Apparently I am far from alone in being completely obsessed with this film - in a good way - and in a way no other movie has even come close. Thanks for sharing your feelings and thoughts on this.
Right. I wavered a bit on being okay with Miguels misdeeds because of the end results, but in the end wrong is wrong. It makes sense with the short run time for such a long book we'd lose characters and storylines. I rather they choose to focus on a few main things as opposed to being spread to thin. I love how much you love this movie & book series. I can't wait to read the book and see how they compare as well.
I loved this review, watched it a few times lol. I really hope you do the reviews for the upcoming series "Mary and George". It stars Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine.
Where was the polo scene.. who can look at polo the same way after that. Apart from that loved your reaction, it was awesome - and loved your enthusiasm. I have seen this lots of times, to me it is up there as the queer equivalent of the princess bride - something we will still be enjoying years from now. Read the book, one of the things missing from the movie is the swoony/sexy/funny AF email correspondence and charactors that add to the total picture are missing. They streamlined the plot and I can see why, but do think they did a good job. Completely agree about the very good lines too - so many favorites there. This is my comfort movie at present and it's lovely to have happy endings for queer couples in movies where no one dies.
lol the polo scene can be found in the extended reaction on patreon. Some of those camera shots were very intentional. I like the Princess Bride comparisons and cheers to happy endings!
You are fun to follow this with. I have read that royal and aristocratic parents can be very neglectful of their children. I was wondering how no one else at the New Year's party recognized a royal prince.
Aw, thank you. Glad you enjoyed! I don’t think people didn’t recognize Prince Henry, I think the party was a-list, VIPs, so Henry fit in so to speak. Like a celeb only party? I could see royal parents being neglectful. Or at the very least not finding the right balance between their royal duties and their parental responsibilities
Love the intimacy displayed in their phone call scene. Really shows how special it is to call someone on the phone and devote your attention to them from an ocean away. So cute!
Loveeeed your reaction. Their relationship was a little rushed in the movie but in the book it was really perfect. You should really read it in my opinion. Their emails literally invented love. I loveee the movie for what it was but so many of my beloved quotes and characters were not there. Alex's sister june, his mentor rafael luna, his stepdad leo. Henry's mum catherine. The outing is much more dramatic in the book. Miguel does not exist. Alex tells henry "im never gonna love anyone the way i love you"
The actor playing the king is Stephen Fry, a British national treasure. Actor, author, comedian, activist - the man can do it all. He is also, quite famously, a gay man. He was in the closet for a good chunk of his early career - understandably, given his age and the time & place he grew up in. He was also celibate for an entire decade during the heighth of the AIDS crisis - an act that was equal parts self-denial and self-preservation. My money says they cast him of all people as the king to suggest that the king, too, may be gay or bi and closeted -adding a whole meta level. And yes, British upper-class people of that generation really do pronounce "homosexual" like that.
Stephen Fry playing the King is so frickin’ ironic. He is a gay icon in the UK. You probably would remember his voice in Heartstopper as the headmaster at the school. His now famous “Go Do Sports” line at sports day in Season 1’s finale episode 🍁🍂
Wow, I couldn't agree with you more. This movie moves me in ways no other ever has in my life. After I had to get the book, which was thoroughly beautiful as well, and even more. I am now reading the book out loud to my husband. Fun thing the next time you watch, and you will, when the President is working on her concession speech with Zarra, the author is with them on her laptop! Just a beautiful experience all the way through.
The books expands on their story beautifully! I'm glad I watched the movie first and then read the book . That way I was able to enjoy both separately but also as a whole! ❤️
19:43 "they just be saying stuff in this movie" MY EXACT REACTION. I went in thinking this would be basically a gay Hallmark movie and all of a sudden they're talking about being dicked down and getting on prep? Excuse me????? But on that note, I don't know if it's a Democrat thing or like an Uma Therman character thing, but I actually love that matter of fact bluntness. I think it's exciting how many of the characters in this movie are just like straight to business, they'll give you a few minutes of tenderness, but then it's back to work.
Fun reaction. I like how you were fine with the movie...but by the end you could feel the very real love and affection for Alex and Henry. Definitely read the book...it brings the spicy to the table. If I had to describe the movie it would be chemistry. The two leads are insane together on screen and in real life.
17:10 the book it was kinda like a slowburn and they /did/ have a longer enemies to lovers part but how can one fit 400 pages into a 2 hour movie, right? the producers also changed the storyline because in the book the emails were leaked by the opposition and not by a journalist. they also removed June, Alex's sister 😭and their stepdad Leo. there were some more characters that were removed in the movie. also there were a lot more smutty scenes in the book 💀 but in my opinion, i prefer the book over the movie because it showcases so much more detail in Alex and Henry's relationship
also in the book, alex was removed from the campaign when his mum found out abt him n henry imma just list off like differences dude 💀 1. no june so no whitehouse trio :< (nora, alex n june) 2. rafael luna replaced by miguel 3. madam president didnt make a slideshow abt alex and henry 4. alex's mum n dad not divorced in the movie 5. henry's full name 6. less smut scenes in the movie 7. miguel wasnt in the book 8. pez's love interest was june and not nora in the book 9. shaan and zarah were engaged in the book 10. no list of things alex loves abt henry :,( 11. pez didnt bring kimonos to the party at the karaoke bar 12. that party was so much more wild in the book 13. bea's drug addiction and rehab was removed 14. no henrys mum in the movie 15. queen mary replaced by the king i bet theres more but i forgot ☠
I enjoyed your reaction. I loved your insight and comments about the differences between their family experiences. Another thing to note is during Alex's coming out speech, we hear him speaking and speaking well and confidently, while we watch Henry sitting silent and being talked about or yelled at. The King was played by Stephen Fry, a brilliant human and gay icon. Nicholas Galitzine can also be seen in: #TheBeatBeneathMyFeet - Tom (his excellent first film) #Legends - Angelo - gay rent boy (super brief appearance in one episode) #HighStrung - Johnnie #HandsomeDevil - Conor - closeted gay teen (Excellent movie) #TheChangeover - Sorenson #TheWatcherInTheWoods - Mark #Share - AJ #Chambers - Elliot (Netflix series; canceled) #TheCraftLegacy - Timmy - bisexual #Cinderella - Prince Robert #PurpleHearts - Luke (I enjoyed this one a lot) #Bottoms - JEFF! (campy, oversexed football player; hilarious movie) #RWRB - Henry - gay prince #TheIdeaOfYou - Hayes (not available yet) #MaryAndGeorge - George - sexually fluid social climber (only teaser trailer available at the moment)
Glad you enjoyed the video dawn! Yes the different family experiences was definitely an interesting observation. Great catch about the difference in coming out speeches. I know Stephen Fry from narrating the Harry Potter audiobooks, I didn't know he was a gay icon lol. Nicolas G. plays a lot of queer roles. Good for him
Also the actor who plays Prince Philip is queer, and the Secret Service agent Amy (transgender in the book and married to a woman) is played by a trans actress 😊
I just watched this movie on my own and it was a little cringe but also so cute 😭 the first time I watched it I was kinda idk, but the second time really made me start crying.
I did like your reaction, if you Like Nicolas watch Handsome Devil. You should definitely watch Maurice, it's beautiful and the story behind it is really meaningful
I'm glad you liked my reaction, though you didn't enjoy the movie lol. I watched Handsome Devil a loooonnggg time ago, I didn't even realize Nicolas was the actor in that til you mentioned it. I haven't seen Maurice I'll have to check it out.
@@KOFI_ESCAPEShave you seen his upcoming mini series trailer, Mary & George, Nick plays pretty famous alleged lover of king James, George Villiers 😉 if you think this was spicy, well, look up that trailer 😅🤭
I can't put in all the timestamps of times I've laughed along, but just know that it's a lot and means very much to me as someone with depression. ❤ Also, dang! 13:19 was some fire singing!
London is the capital of England, a city, not a country. You mentioned London when it came to the flag and when it came to Prince Henry (+ some other times) as if London is a country.
I love this movie so much I watched it to many times already and all reaction videos in RU-vid I enjoy ur reaction ❤ definitely read the book it’s so good
Great reaction! I've watched every reaction video for this movie and yours is one of the most enjoyable. Also, the audio level for the movie was perfect but I think the level on your voice may be about 2 levels too high. Wearing headphones can make a person speak louder than they would normally, which is understandable. Anyway, looking forward to checking out some of your other reactions! 👍
Thanks for pointing this out! I definitely see what you're saying. Something got mixed up with the sound mixing so the volume levels are off. Glad you enjoyed the video nevertheless!
Regarding "Pride & Prejudice," you must watch the 1996 version of it with Colin Firth. The 2005 version with Keira Knightly does not portray the culture of the time correctly, nor even stay true to the book! Watch it SECOND, if you must.
The *worst* part of this movie is that they made Minnesota red. In 91 years, MN has voted Dem all but three times (‘52, ‘56, and ‘72). So for the last 51 years, it’s been blue.
YES, that was unfortunate! Did you know that Texas was BLUE up until about 1970? And it will be again one day! I loved the political background of this story, especially in the book. But then, I'm an ex-Texan and political junkie.😄😄
13:01 Nora is the actress from Love, Victor. I think her character name was Mia. I really enjoy her acting, but I wish they had given her better hair in this movie. It’s not very flattering here. She’s a beautiful woman who deserves a beautiful hairstyle!
Yes, I recognize'd her from Love Victor. I reacted to that show on Patreon. I agree with you on the hair styling. An unfortunate happening at times for black actors & actresses.
Your reaction on this movie is on point! A great movie with superb acting and directing! I appreciate your comments of this excellent movie along with a pretty face. QUESTION: Is there there a reason for your finger nails to be painted black? I'm not throwing off on you! Just curious is all.,,cheers!😂❤😂❤😂
