MovieChat Forums > The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) Discussion > What was the point of Lilly?

What was the point of Lilly?

posted 10 years ago by E_nineteen
6 replies | jump to latest

They seemed to awkwardly shoehorn her into the movie just because the actress was available, or something. She didn't contribute to the story at all. I was disappointed because she was quite an interesting (if slightly dislikeable, but typically teenage) character in the first film; I think they should have just had her visit in this movie, or something, and maybe have a heart-to-heart with Mia about her nuptials and have her offer some good advice before disappearing back off to San Francisco. It would have been a nice way to show how the character had grown in the past five years and maybe would have inspired Mia. Instead she just stuck around for no reason.

[–] sabrinajaine 10 years ago

I know, she even says in one scene "My hello is insignificant" lol

[–] Helenlaurence 9 years ago

Ditto the security guy... I thought he was going to be a love interest or have some purpose.... He's vaguely comic but that's about it!

[–] leesilm 9 years ago

I always liked her in the second movie. I thought it was important to show that Mia had not totally left San-Fran behind, that she was still the girl who dreamed about her mustang and was best friends with the same person since she was 5. Plus, I think it was good for Mia to have someone who knew her before everyone knew her name - so when Mia wants to talk to Nicholas for a minute or she isn't sure what to do about the marriage, she's got her oldest friend there to help out. I think especially since her mom wasn't there, the Queen and Joe were busier, and her college-friends weren't handy, it gave her an ally to confide in.

If nothing else, I was glad they had Lily there at the coronation. When Mia looks at her grandma and Joe all proud of her, and then she looks over to Lily for a moment before she looks at Nicholas, and walks forward to be announced as Queen of Genovia. The fact that she looks at Lily as if recognizing she wouldn't be here without Lily. She was ready to abdicate when Lily yells at her about how being Princess would mean that Mia had the power to effect change because people would listen when she spoke, unlike Lily with her cable channel with 4 viewers. And Lily having a moment to think, this was at least partially due to her because of that speech she gave Mia back in high school. Its almost like at a wedding, when the made of honor once gave the bride a pep-talk that made her take the job or the trip, where she met the man she's now marrying. They share that unspoken moment where they know none of this would have happened without that pep-talk and the steps taken because of it. It was a good moment for the two childhood friends to have.

"There is still hope." - Arwen

[–] Catgurl22 8 years ago

From what I understand, the actress playing Lily is good friends with Anne Hathaway so probably that is why she was shoehorned into this movie. Like you said, there really was no point for her being in it. But then again, it's a Gary Marshall film, most of the things and characters have no point in his movies!

Mr McGee, don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry!

[–] leader (1962) 3 years ago

She is Mia's best friend. She was there to support her. And she did just that.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

There always has to be one character is there for the leading character to explain things to! That's why Doctor Who has all these companions, just so he can have someone to talk things out with, so that the audience knows what's on his mind and what's going on.

So in this movie, the Princess has a best friend in SF, so she can talk about how she feels about all this crap.