The Queen's Corgi is a 2019 English-language Belgian animated comedy film produced by nWave Pictures. The film was directed by Ben Stassen and Vincent Kesteloot and written by John R. Smith and Rob Sprackling. Inspired by Queen Elizabeth II and her pet corgis, the story follows a corgi named Rex, who gets lost and tries to find his way home.
| The Queen's Corgi | |
|---|---|
 Teaser poster | |
| Directed by |
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| Written by |
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| Produced by | Ben Stassen |
| Starring | |
| Edited by | Vincent Kesteloot |
| Music by | Ramin Djawadi |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Belga Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | Belgium |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $20 million[1] |
| Box office | $31.4 million[2] |
The film was theatrically released in Belgium on 3 April 2019. It was panned by critics such as The Independent, which stated the film was "deeply unpleasant and in no way suitable for children."[3] The film grossed $31.4 million worldwide against a budget of $20 million.
Plot
editRex is the Queen's favourite corgi and lives a life of luxury with three other corgis in Buckingham Palace. On a visit by President Donald Trump with his wife Melania and their dog Mitzi, the Queen suggests one of her corgis might be a suitable mate for Mitzi, who chooses Rex, who is not pleased at the prospect. After Rex evades her multiple times, Mitzi chases him into the dining hall where he accidentally bites the president, angering the Queen.
Rex, ashamed at embarrassing the Queen, is consoled by Charlie, another of the Queen's corgis who is jealous of Rex's position. Luring him with the false promise that the Pope is looking for dogs, Charlie disposes of Rex's collar and leads him to a stream with the intention of drowning him.
Rex is saved by a man who takes him to a dog shelter, where Rex's mannerisms at first alienate him, but he makes friends and falls in love with a Saluki named Wanda. Initially wary, she develops feelings for him. This raises the ire of Tyson, a former fighting dog, who also has feelings for Wanda and runs the kennel. Rex convinces the other dogs to join forces against Tyson and defeat him.
Rex returns to the palace with his new friends and Wanda, however the guards do not recognise him and throw him out of the palace as Charlie has convinced the Queen that Rex was killed by foxes. Rex sneaks into the palace where everybody tries to prevent Charlie from becoming top dog. Charlie traps Rex and Wanda in a room and sets it on fire. Wanda escapes and rallies their friends to save Rex.
The Queen is overjoyed to find Rex alive and well and is about to restore to him the honour of Top Dog. Rex refuses as he values his love for Wanda more than his position. Charlie, becoming Top Dog, is forced to marry Mitzi and move to America while Rex continues to live at the palace with his new friends.
Cast
edit| Character | Voice actor | |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | United States | |
| Rex | Jack Whitehall | Leo Barakat |
| Wanda | Sheridan Smith | Jo Wyatt |
| Tyson | Ray Winstone | Joey Camen |
| Charlie | Matt Lucas | Dino Andrade |
| Queen Elizabeth II | Julie Walters | Mari Devon (credited as Jane Alan) |
| Prince Philip | Tom Courtenay | Paul Gregory |
| Nelson | Anthony Skordi[citation needed] | Anthony Skordi |
| Lady Margaret | Debra Stephenson | Lin Gallagher |
| Jack | Iain McKee | Rusty Shackleford |
| Al Sation | Steven Kynman | Joey Camen |
| Bernard St. Bernard | Jon Culshaw | Jamie Arlen Scott |
| Chihuahua | Rasmus Hardiker | Joey Camen |
| Chief | Colin McFarlane | Rick Zieff (credited as Danny Katiana) |
| Sanjay | Kulvinder Ghir | Joey Camen |
| Ginger | Rasmus Hardiker | Lani Minella |
| Polux | Steven Kynman | Dino Andrade |
| Patmore | Nina Wadia | Lin Gallagher |
| The Royal Guards | David A. Alano Daniel Wolfe[citation needed] | |
| Mitzi | Sarah Hadland | Madison Brown |
| Melania Trump | Debra Stephenson | Millie Mup |
| President Donald Trump | Jon Culshaw | Kirk Thornton (credited as Ron Allen) |
| Little Girl | Twinkle Jaiswal | Nicole Sherman |
Production
editBelgian company nWave Pictures produced and animated the film, with the distribution company Charades acquiring worldwide rights to it.[citation needed]
The film cost around $20 million to make.[1]
Music
editRamin Djawadi, who scored Ben Stassen's previous films, such as Robinson Crusoe, The House of Magic and Fly Me to the Moon, returned to score the film. This is the seventh collaboration between Stassen and Djawadi.
Release
editThis film was released on 3 April 2019 in France and Belgium. It was also released in 2020 in other countries around the world, including China, the United Kingdom, Latin America, the United States and Russia.[4]
Reception
editThe film was panned by critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports a rare approval rating of 0% based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 3.6/10.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Keslassy, Elsa (11 June 2018). "Lionsgate U.K. brings 'The Queen's Corgi' Back Home". Variety. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "The Queen's Corgi (2019)". The Numbers. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "The Queen's Corgi review: Deeply unpleasant and in no way suitable for children". The Independent. 4 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (12 February 2018). "Charades pre sells 'The Queen's Corgi' to key territories". Variety. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "The Queen's Corgi". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2024.