--- title: "The Young Victoria: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-young-victoria/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-young-victoria" critics_score: 61 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Young Victoria (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 61 from 12 reviews: 5 positive, 5 mixed, 2 negative. The reviews lean towards qualified approval, with praise clustering around Emily Blunt’s performance and her chemistry with Rupert Friend. Most critics find her Victoria lively, nuanced or determined, giving the romance enough feeling to sustain an otherwise restrained costume drama. The handsome presentation is another recurring strength, while several reviews find the film entertaining despite its stiffness. Supporting performances also receive praise, though Blunt is usually the main attraction. The divide concerns how much drama survives the polish and reverence. Even favourable reviews note underdeveloped characters, limited spectacle or a lack of urgency; the spread runs from warm approval to firm rejection. The Guardian offers the sharpest dissent on Blunt, finding that her restraint wastes her charisma rather than serving the character. Slant Magazine rejects the romance as unconvincing and the history as lifeless, while singling out Paul Bettany’s Lord Melbourne for praise. ## Variety — Derek Elley Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 5 February 2009. Festival review. Elley finds the film polished, romantic entertainment, praising its performances and assured direction. He singles out Emily Blunt’s nuanced portrayal and her chemistry with Rupert Friend as particular strengths. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/the-young-victoria-1200473845/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 25 February 2009. Newman finds the film elegant, entertaining and informative, though somewhat restrained in its drama. He praises Emily Blunt’s performance and the vivid supporting turns, while noting the film skimps on spectacle. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/young-victoria-review/) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Rating B-. 17 December 2009. Phipps finds the film an effective, if stuffy, costume drama. He praises Emily Blunt’s lively portrayal and the romantic tension she shares with Rupert Friend. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-young-victoria-1798207651) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2009. Festival review. The review finds the film appealing but rarely rousing, with some bloodless direction. It praises Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend’s performances, especially the romance between Victoria and Albert. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/film-review-young-victoria-92847/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint is available from the accessible text. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-young-victoria-2009) ## Radio Times — Susannah Straughan Rating 3/5. The critic finds the biographical drama vivacious and handsome, with Emily Blunt bringing charm and steely determination to Victoria. The conflicts with Victoria’s mother and Sir John Conroy are singled out as the script’s strongest material. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ssz7r9/the-young-victoria/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 13 December 2009. Lane finds the film handsome but constrained, with its success resting largely on Emily Blunt. He praises her nuanced, commanding performance, especially the moment of relief after Victoria addresses the Privy Council. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/12/21/free-and-uneasy) ## Time Out — Nina Caplan Rating 3/5. 3 March 2009. The review presents the film as sumptuous, though Victoria’s path to becoming queen proves complicated. The available text singles out its sumptuousness but provides no further detail on the critic’s verdict. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-young-victoria-1) ## Slant Magazine — Joseph Jon Lanthier Rating 1.5/4. 15 December 2009. The critic finds the film vapid and historically lifeless, reducing Victoria’s story to an unconvincing romance. He singles out Paul Bettany’s Lord Melbourne as the film’s cleverest performance. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-young-victoria/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 6 March 2009. Bradshaw finds the biopic dull and overly reverential, with little dramatic spark. He particularly faults Emily Blunt’s restrained performance, arguing the film wastes her charisma. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/mar/06/the-young-victoria-film-review) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 4 March 2009. The review finds the film an accomplished, unashamedly romantic period drama despite some underdeveloped characters and an unconvincing shift in Albert’s personality. It singles out Emily Blunt’s captivating lead performance and her effortless chemistry with Rupert Friend for praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a148394/the-young-victoria/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 March 2009. The critic finds the film entertaining and pleasingly assembled, though not scrupulously accurate. They praise the performances, especially the chemistry between Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend, and the film’s visual framing. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-young-victoria-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-young-victoria.md