Red, White & Royal Blue
Red, White & Royal Blue is a 2023 American romantic comedy film adapted from Casey McQuiston's best-selling novel of the same name. The story follows Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States, and Prince Henry of Britain, who initially harbor a mutual disdain for each other. After a public altercation, they are forced into a staged truce for diplomatic reasons, which unexpectedly blossoms into a secret romantic relationship. The film explores themes of identity, love, and the challenges of maintaining a private life under intense public scrutiny, particularly within political and royal families.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe film centrally features a romantic relationship between two male protagonists: Alex Claremont-Diaz, who identifies as bisexual, and Prince Henry, who identifies as gay. Their journey involves coming to terms with their sexual identities, keeping their relationship secret, and eventually making it public. The director, Matthew López, explicitly stated that Alex is bisexual and Henry is gay, emphasizing the 'B in LGBTQ is not a silent letter' from the original novel.
The entire plot revolves around Alex and Henry's developing same-sex relationship. Alex comes out as bisexual to his mother, President Ellen Claremont, who is supportive, and Henry identifies as gay. The film portrays their romantic and sexual intimacy, including multiple kissing scenes and implied sexual encounters.
Romance and Sexual Content
HighThe movie includes explicit romantic and sexual content centered around the male protagonists. This includes multiple scenes of kissing and embracing, partial nudity, implied oral sex, and an extended sex scene, which contributed to its R rating in the US.
There are repeated scenes depicting Alex and Henry kissing and embracing each other, some with clothing and some without. The film features two scenes of implied oral sex and an extended sex scene in bed without graphic detail, though it does include male buttock nudity in a non-sexual context. Alex's mother also has a frank discussion with him about protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Profanity
MediumThe film includes strong language, featuring explicit sexual expletives, anatomical terms, and scatological curses, as well as minor profanities and slang for male genitalia.
The script contains at least one sexual expletive and several anatomical terms and scatological curses. There are also instances of minor profanities and slang terms for male genitalia used throughout the dialogue.
Substance Use
MediumThe movie frequently depicts adult characters consuming alcohol at parties, with one main character shown becoming heavily intoxicated. There are also instances of adults smoking.
Characters are frequently seen drinking alcohol at various parties and social gatherings. Prince Henry, a main character, gets very intoxicated while attempting to cope with his emotions. An adult character is shown drinking alcohol directly from the bottle. Adult characters are also seen smoking cigars and cigarettes.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe film features elements of disrespect and rebellion, primarily through the protagonists defying established royal protocols and political expectations by engaging in a secret same-sex relationship. Initial interactions between Alex and Henry also show mutual disdain.
Alex and Henry initially display a public feud and personal dislike for each other, leading to a 'cake-gate' incident. Their subsequent secret relationship is a direct act of rebellion against the restrictive expectations of the British monarchy and the potential political fallout for Alex's mother, the President.
Violence
LowThe film contains very minimal physical conflict, limited to minor altercations typical of romantic comedies rather than serious violence. The director, Matthew López, explicitly stated that there is no violence in the story.
There is a scene involving minor pushing and shoving between characters. Additionally, a frustrated woman is shown hitting a man with pillows, which is presented as more comedic than violent.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowNo elements of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or supernatural themes were identified within the film's content. The narrative focuses purely on a contemporary romantic comedy within political and royal settings.
The film does not contain any depictions or references to witchcraft, occult practices, or supernatural elements. The storyline remains grounded in reality, albeit a heightened romanticized version of it. No characters engage in any form of magic or invoke occult powers.
Scary & Intense Content
LowThe film does not contain elements typically considered scary or intensely frightening, such as horror, jump scares, or graphic violence. Any intensity stems from romantic tension, emotional drama, and political intrigue rather than physical threat or disturbing imagery.
There are no scenes designed to frighten or cause distress through horror, gore, or intense peril. The most intense moments are emotional confrontations related to the characters' relationship and their public identities, such as when Alex and Henry's private emails are leaked.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThere is no identifiable content within the film that promotes anti-Christian themes, mocks Christian beliefs, or depicts sacrilegious acts against Christian symbols or figures. The narrative does not engage with religious themes in a critical or disrespectful manner.
The film's plot and character interactions do not involve any discussions, criticisms, or depictions of Christianity. Religious elements are absent from the storyline and character motivations.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Not recommended for viewers under 16 due to significant LGBTQ+ romantic and sexual content, including implied sexual activity and partial nudity, as well as frequent strong language and depictions of alcohol consumption. While rated R in the US (and 16+ by Amazon), some viewers noted that the sexual content might align more with a PG-13 rating if it depicted heterosexual couples, highlighting the explicit nature of the same-sex relationship for this rating.
Additional Notes
The film's R-rating in the US (16+ on Amazon) has been a point of discussion, with some director and viewer feedback suggesting that a similar level of sexual content, if heterosexual, might have received a lower rating, pointing to a potential disparity in how same-sex intimacy is rated. In the UK, the film received a 12A rating, equivalent to a US PG-13.
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