A Critical Disaster? Trying To Find 'Grace Of Monaco's' Saving Graces

Nicole Kidman’s Grace of Monaco finally got its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this Wednesday and, to put it mildly, critics found it not to be worth the wait. The film seems to be have been universally panned with many calling it just too melodramatic for their taste. The movie’s reception is sure to be a blow for Kidman and director Olivier Dahan who already faced criticism from Monaco’s royal family and distribution problems before the film's release. But among all the negativity, does Grace of Monaco really have any saving graces?

Nicole Kidman as Grace Kelly in Grace of Monaco

The premiere of Grace of Monaco was certainly highly anticipated, but perhaps not for the right reasons. It had garnered much press attention in recent months thanks to comments from Monaco’s royal family and a dispute between the film’s director Olivier Dahan and distributor Harvey Weinstein.

More: 'Grace Of Monaco' Opens Cannes: A Royal Embarrassment For Nicole Kidman? [Trailer]

But when the grand premiere finally happened it became clear to many why there had be so much drama behind the scenes. The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin described international critics as starting to curl up, “like startled armadillos, into tight little balls of embarrassment” after watching just the opening scene. Writing in The Guardian Peter Bradshaw was particular scathing towards the movie, giving just one star and declaring it “a royal biopic worse than Diana.”

More: Nicole Kidman Defends Grace Of Monaco At Cannes Press Conference

Whilst the script has received a universal thumbs down, Kidman’s performance has had some mild praise, with critics feeling the actress did her best with the poor material. The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Kidman “ brings an intensity that elevates even a shallow script with shades of emotional complexity,” to the role. While Vanity Fair described her as “undeniably striking as Princess Grace.”

Watch the trailer for Grace of Monaco here:

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Is Grace of Monaco a critical disaster? In a word yes, it currently hold a 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which might just be the least of its worries. For a film that had so much press prior to its debut screening the critical reception is at best embarrassing. Unfortunately for Grace of Monaco the off screen drama has proved to be more engrossing than the film itself, meaning this one might just find a place in history among cinema's biggest critical failures.