"Red, White & Royal Blue"

In the first five minutes the viewer knows what these characters do not.  That they are hopelessly in love.  But this isn't Hallmark.  The script is better.  The direction is better.  The cinematography is hugely better.  The lead actors are strong, and carry the tale through a few bumps.  The bumps are obvious.  Namely, Uma Thuman, who is unconvincing across the board -- as a President, a mother, a wife, a Texan.  Then there is Sarah Shahi, who I generally love.  In this case she seemed miscast.  Instead of bringing that little bubble of humanity, joy and energy, she comes off as an overcaffeinated control freak.  It was grating.  There was a minor question as to why the President of the US doesn't use her Mexican-American husband's surname, but all of that was background nonsense, and I have to admit, I haven't read the book which might have put a number of issues in better context.  It matters not.  This is the tale of two people and that's all you really end up caring about.  All that being said, this isn't just a rom-com.  It's a drama, too.  It shows how being "out" in this day and age is still an impossibility for some.  The film layers sexual identity with politics and privilege, not to mention culture and history.  It's smart.  And that's saying something for a film of this kind.  There are memorable lines, with the struggle by the British protagonist gaining serious traction as the story progresses.  While it is, of course, predictable given the genre; it's not predictable as to the characters' reactions and their inner life.  I was touched.  More than I usually am when I watch these types of things.  And, lest I say it again, this is not Hallmark.  There are graphic (and beautiful) love scenes, with Ms. Shahi ripping off the F-word at one point just to let the audience know that this is NOT cable.  Worth a Saturday afternoon.  Engaging and transported me just enough.