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Crown Prince Edvard of Denmark (Mably) is intent on getting away from his parents, so he heads to Wisconsin, where he hears the women are easy (wasn't this a joke from Love Actually as well?). Enrolling in university as an exchange student called "Eddie"--with his personal assistant (Miller) in tow--he meets Paige (Stiles), a strong-willed farm girl from Wisconsin intent on becoming a world-saving doctor. Of course they fall in love, but how will she take the news about his identity and cope with his imperious parents (Fox and Richardson)? And how will he survive life on the farm with her parents (Watson and Bourgeouis) and chucklehead brothers (Knighton and O'Reilly).

It's all extremely obvious, but the actors actually have a spark, and as a director Coolidge knows how to bring out her cast's energy. It also helps that Stiles and Mably have simmering chemistry that the script wisely avoids boiling over. The story is full of moments of raucous humour and cute drama that disarm our cynicism, and performances are all surprisingly solid for a frivolous film with such stereotypical characters. There are problems, of course: Everyone in Denmark conveniently speaks English (with a clipped British accent) so Paige can understand them. There's no earthy edge to the story--it makes Pretty Woman look gritty and realistic! This is unadulterated fantasy aimed at teen girls, barely knowing enough to keep everyone else watching. The idea that a brainy, independent woman really only wants a husband is more than a little offensive. And the filmmakers seem strangely unwilling to commit to their own conclusion. But never mind, it's bright and enjoyable, one of the first rom-coms in ages that's actually both romantic and funny.