VICTORIA & ABDUL | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"VICTORIA & ABDUL"
(2017) (Judi Dench, Ali Fazal) (PG-13)

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: The elderly monarch of England unexpectedly takes on an everyday Indian man as her close personal confidant and teacher.

PLOT:

It's the late 1800s in British controlled India and Abdul Karim (ALI FAZAL) is a Muslim Indian who works as a prison clerk. Due to his height, he's selected to present Queen Victoria (JUDI DENCH) -- the Empress of India -- with a ceremonial coin. When the other man also chosen for the duty is unavailable, a man by the name of Mohammed (ADEEL AKHTAR) is selected as his replacement. While he's reluctant and not particularly pleased with traveling to Britain or dealing with the British, Abdul is quite excited. So much so that he breaks royal protocol and looks the Queen in the eye during his presentation.

Having observed his handsome looks and bored with her daily royal routine, Victoria orders that the two Indian men become her footmen, much to the dismay of Sir Henry Ponsonby (TIM PIGOTT-SMITH), the head of the household and Dr. Reid (PAUL HIGGINS). It gets worse when the Queen elevates Abdul's status and assigns him as her personal confidant and teacher of all things Indian.

That doesn't sit well with Henry, Dr. Reid, and the rest of the staff, or Prime Minister Salisbury (MICHAEL GAMBON) and especially Victoria's adult son, Bertie (EDDIE IZZARD), who can't wait for her to die so that the throne can be all his. From that point on, Victoria and Abdul's platonic relationship continues to evolve as does resistance against that from everyone else.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Those into history or the British monarchy might be interested, but overall it doesn't likely seem much of a draw for many kids.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For some thematic elements and language.

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