Actor in Hollywood

"Time for school!"

"Stop daydreaming, you're going to be late!"

In the early morning, in an ordinary neighborhood in San Francisco, a luxurious stretch limousine roared past. From the escorting security detail and the diplomatic flags on the car, it was clear that someone of importance was inside, but none of this mattered to Mia, who was about to turn sixteen.

Mia, an ordinary high school student, had a head of unruly, frizzy hair, thick black-framed glasses, and caterpillar-like eyebrows that gave her a naturally comedic look. Paired with braces, it wasn't hard to imagine what kind of life a kid like her would have in high school.

And indeed, that was the case—

No one knew her name, no one noticed her existence, and some people didn't even see her to the point that they accidentally sat on her.

At school, Mia was a complete nobody, a freak, except for her best friend Lilly and Lilly's brother, Michael.

Oh, and by the way, Lilly and Michael were also considered weirdos.

Lilly sported an odd hairstyle and had a punk-rock rebellious streak, seemingly searching for her own style.

Michael, on the other hand, was a geek with a Beatles-style haircut, always carrying a stack of thick books wherever he went.

Pfft.

When Gloria saw "Michael," she doubted her eyes for a moment. Even though she had already burst into laughter at Anson's mushroom haircut in the trailer, seeing it in the actual movie was still too much—

It was just too funny!

However, the problem was that even with that haircut, Anson still looked handsome.

There was a unique charm to his rebellious yet refined demeanor. No matter where he stood, his height, build, and presence naturally drew everyone's attention.

At least, that's what Gloria thought.

To her, Anson fit perfectly into her aesthetic ideals, effortlessly capturing her heart, making her feel like she was helplessly falling for him:

Even if this classmate carried a backpack, was lost in the world of rock music, constantly had his nose in thick books, and even if other students saw him as a weirdo or a nerd, to Gloria, he still didn't seem like an outcast.

There was no convincing her otherwise!

Hmph!

At the school gate, the popular, noisy kids looked like clowns from a circus to Gloria, who could always spot that one figure in the crowd.

However… Michael's gaze was constantly fixed on Mia, his bright eyes subtly shining with every move she made.

Unfortunately.

Mia didn't notice Michael; her gaze was magnetically drawn to the school's heartthrob, Josh, and the cheerleader captain, Lana, who was constantly swapping spit with him in public, both completely oblivious to anyone else as they explored each other's curves and warmth.

Mia couldn't help but daydream—what if she were Lana...

But it was just a fantasy.

The reality was that Mia was the "frizzball," the girl who puked during a speech in front of everyone and became the laughing stock, the girl too timid to even raise her voice in the school choir—

However, Michael gave her courage.

Michael sat at the piano, playing for the choir.

No one noticed Mia's unease and disappointment, not even Lilly, who was preoccupied with her environmental activism, but Michael did.

Michael hesitated for a moment, then looked at Mia without averting his gaze. Hidden behind his bangs, his bright blue eyes seemed to speak, offering no grand gestures or expressions, but they were like the calm and deep Aegean Sea, gentle yet brave, providing a quiet support.

He stood there, silently, as Mia's safe harbor.

Mia was a little surprised, her gaze flickering slightly, but she didn't look away. She held Michael's gaze, and slowly, she began to sing, finding a bit of confidence. A small smile gradually spread across her lips.

The unspoken understanding between them flowed through the air.

You had to admit, Garry Marshall really knew what he was doing.

The narrative efficiency is outstanding, using the simplest yet most effective shots to tell the story. There's no need for excessive embellishment; the characters' personalities and relationships are immediately apparent, and the story manages to grip the audience's attention even within a seemingly mundane plot.

At first, Gloria thought this was an ugly duckling story; then she assumed it was a Cinderella story, and now it seems like a fairytale version of "When Harry Met Sally." The seemingly clichéd character setup subtly breaks the mold, and the familiar story is unfolding in a slightly different way, hitting the key points before the audience loses interest.

Pfft!

On the screen, Mia nearly spits out water in a moment of embarrassment.

Huh!

In the cinema, the audience collectively gasps.

Mia is a princess, a long-lost royal heir. The bold fantasy of a fairytale has suddenly become a reality.

An ordinary, even unremarkable sixteen-year-old high school student suddenly becomes the sole heir to a kingdom—a bit of a thrill.

It turns out the diplomatic vehicle at the beginning of the movie was from a small European country called Genovia. The queen of this country has personally come to San Francisco, specifically to find Mia—

Her granddaughter.

Years ago, the Prince of Genovia, while studying abroad, met a woman named Helen, fell in love, and got married. However, when Helen realized the man she loved was the heir to a throne, she chose to walk away.

Helen, an artist, longed for painting, freedom, and the desire to be herself, not to enter a palace and become a caged bird. So they divorced. She stayed in San Francisco to raise her daughter, allowing her to enjoy an ordinary life, while the prince returned to Genovia to inherit the throne.

Originally, they planned to reveal this secret to their daughter when she turned eighteen, but the prince's untimely death disrupted their plans. Now, the responsibility of continuing the royal bloodline falls on his only daughter, who has been living outside the royal circle.

And that is Mia.

When the queen, played by Julie Andrews, informs Mia that she is a princess, Mia's first reaction is:

"Shut up!"

The screening room erupts in laughter.

At this point, the movie is only fifteen minutes in, and the audience's curiosity and anticipation have already been fully ignited.

The Chieftain Theater is buzzing with excitement, a thrill that cannot be suppressed—

Surely, more than one girl has fantasized about being a princess, wearing a beautiful dress and a diamond crown, gracefully and beautifully accepting the adoration of all.

Even if there's no "Prince," it doesn't matter. The point is that a girl hopes she could be a princess. Just look at today's princess-themed tea party premiere; it has nothing to do with age. The "princess dream" is a magnificent fantasy.

And now, this scene is unfolding right before their eyes, the most glamorous and blissful imagination becoming reality. The princesses in the audience can't contain their emotions.

This is exactly what they hoped to see in the movie.

However.

For Mia, who has always been invisible, terrified of any form of attention, prepared to continue being invisible, and content to hide away from view:

This is a shocking piece of news. There is no joy, no excitement, no thrill, let alone happiness.

Only deep fear and utter panic.