The true story of how Hawaii lost its sovereignty and became annexed to the United States might have been an interesting one, but it makes for starchy entertainment in the historical drama "Princess Kaiulani."

 

Written and directed by Marc Forby and told through the eyes of its title character, a half-Hawaiian, half-Scottish princess (bloodlessly played by "The New World's" Q'orianka Kilcher) who, in the late 1800s, defended her homeland against American injustice, the film is too reverently drawn and self-consciously played to muster any momentum.

The narrative picks up as ill-defined teen Princess Kaiulani (Is she shy? Headstrong? Snooty?) is sent to Victorian England after a rebel party linked to the American government overthrows the Hawaiian monarchy. Kaiulani moves in with her father's wealthy trader friend and his family, is humbled and enlightened, and falls for the trader's self-possessed son (Shaun Evans). But love doesn't conquer all and, a few years later, a matured Kaiulani returns to America to rally then- President Grover Cleveland on behalf of native Hawaiians, before traveling back to Honolulu for good.

Barry Pepper and Will Patton, fine actors both, are also on hand as American agents of change with differing plans for colonizing Hawaii, but they can do little to ignite this sluggish tribute.

 

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"Princess Kaiulani" Movie Trailer

 

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MPAA rating: PG (for some violence and thematic material, brief language, sensuality and smoking.

Running time: 1:37.

Cast: Q'orianka Kilcher (Kaiulani); Shaun Evans (Clive Davies); Barry Pepper (Thurston); Will Patton (Sanford Dole).

Credits: Written, produced and directed by Marc Forby; co-produced by Nigel Thomas, Lauri Apelian, Ric Galindez and Roy Tjioe. A Roadside Attractions release.