5/5 princess caraboo
  by Debbie Jo Peterson (oregon usa)
it was a very enjoyable movie for the whole family and friends,we watch it over and over again

4/5 Cute Girl & Chick Flick Story
  by Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
Phoebe Cates was very cute in the lead role of "Mary Baker/Princess Cariboo." The story was a nice one, too, with no complaints about inappropriate language or behavior, if anyone's wondering.

This is supposedly based on a true story but I am going to assume they took a lot of liberties with it. Kevin Kline supplies many of the laughs, at least with me. I preferred him over John Lithgow or Jim Broadbent. I found the film pleasant, but more of a "chick flick" than a guy's film.

I definitely recommend this comedy-drama-romance for people who haven't seen it, and for most people who are not adult males.

4/5 Princess Caraboo: to bow or not to bow
  by H. Bala (Carson - hey, we have an IKEA store! - CA USA)
If you're anywhere close to my generation, then teen films like THE BREAKFAST CLUB and FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH will resonate more for you. Phoebe Cates remains an icon to folks like me, and what dude didn't have a crush on her, a crush brought about mostly from that one oh-so-memorable image of her from FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (yeah, you know the one). But, as it turns out, with mad respect to FAST TIMES, my favorite Phoebe Cates movie is PRINCESS CARABOO.

The summer of 1817 finds the peace of an English village shattered by the arrival of a fetching, oddly-garbed vagabond. Arrested for vagrancy, the young woman's imperious bearing and indecipherable tongue impress the aristocratic Mrs. Worrall, who takes her in. It doesn't take too long for word to get around that the Worralls are housing East Indian royalty and that her name is "Princess Caraboo," so-called for that oft-repeated word of hers. As well, it dawns on the Worralls, who rank somewhere near the bottom of high society, that sponsoring the exotic princess bears potential for advancing their status and wealth. In time Caraboo's story trickles out, of her abduction from her palace by pirates and her escape from captivity by jumping off a merchant ship and into the Bristol Channel. She becomes a sensation amongst the elite social circles, and soon quite a few of the priveleged are sporting a turban.

Others aren't convinced, including the Worrall's household servants who from the start speculate about the girl's true origins. Kevin Kline (Cates' real life hubby) is equally droll and annoying and very over-the-top as the skeptical, insolent Greek butler who strives so hard to disprove Caraboo's pedigree - but even he is won over. John Lithgow appears as an Oxford linguist whose efforts are stymied by Caraboo until he at last slumps away in defeat. Caraboo's biggest detractor may well be the journalist Mr. John Gutch, played with a jaded air by Stephen Rea. In Gutch, one may detect a carefully hidden bump of wistfulness, but that's not near enough to keep him from doggedly pursuing the truth. But it makes him more likeable.

If only Merchant Ivory pictures were more like PRINCESS CARABOO, I'd be a lot more high class and snooty by now, brother. PRINCESS CARABOO unfolds as a charming 19th century fable and a satire of the English social classes. Thanks to the actors, and mostly to Cates' winning performance, the skimpy premise doesn't wear itself out. The story is based on actual events, with, of course, a bit of the embellished here and there. It actually saddens me a bit to learn that the romance between Caraboo and Mr. Gutch, unconvincing though it is, is a thing of fiction, because these two are appealing characters. But the film barely develops this romance. I don't know that Mr. Gutch warning the princess that perjury is a hanging offense or Caraboo wishing him goodbye ("Kola feni foo") are enough to merit courtship. Cates and Rea barely share scenes together.

As Mr. Gutch states, people believe two things: what they read in the paper and what they want to believe. Princess Caraboo may or may not be an actual princess - we don't find out until near the very end in one affecting moment - but gullibility is demonstrated front and center when the Prince Regent hosts a ball in Princess Caraboo's honor and the princess leads the besotted highborn into a silly conga line dance.

Cates has the challenging gig of ingratiating herself to the audience even as she's restricted to eccentric gestures and to dialogue consisting of jibber jabber. Yet her expressiveness wins out. And, of course, it helps that Phoebe Cates looks like Phoebe Cates, a sexy waif. Here's a toast from the film (and I'll leave it up to you to guess who airs this sentiment): "To Her Royal Highness. She not Greek. She not French. She not Indian. She not African. She not Russian. She our own princess. Long live the Princess Caraboo." In the end, irregardless of Caraboo's true nature, regal or not, I guess we can take away two things from this movie: that you may be surprised by how far you'd get, with composure and with creativity given free reign. The other thing is, damn, is Phoebe Cates fine or what?

Kola feni foo, brother.

5/5 Princess Caraboo
  by B. Cork (Tuscaloosa, AL)
This is one of my alltime favorite movies. I was greatly pleased with the speedy arrival, and yet the price tag was a tolerable value.

5/5 Love This Princess - Perfect for Any Age
  by Emily J. Fuller (Salt Lake City, Utah United States)
I first saw Princess Caraboo on a summer day when I wasn't feeling well. I was about 14 or so and it has stuck with me. A beautiful fairytale of strength and cunning this is a great movie for any age - even a family view! One of my top ten of all time, this is a great movie to just get lost in!