Netflix released “The Princess Switch” on Nov. 16. This romantic comedy gives viewers the magic, fantasy and escape associated with the Christmas season.

Vanessa Hudgens plays the dual roles of Stacy De Novo, a baker from Chicago, and Duchess Margaret of Montenaro, the soon-to-be princess of Belgravia. The two women discover that they look identical and decide to switch places for a few days.

The Duchess, who is set to marry Prince Edward of Belgravia, introduces a plan so that she can experience what it is like to live like a normal person before she is bound to her duty of marrying Prince Edward.

Stacy, who is visiting Belgravia for its annual baking competition, hastily agrees to switching places with the Duchess although it goes against her typically organized and systematic persona.

Under this plan, Margaret would reside with Kevin, Stacy’s sous-chef and close friend, and his daughter Olivia, who are spending their time sightseeing and touring Belgravia. Stacy would have no other responsibility than having breakfast with the king and queen the following morning because Prince Edward would be on a trip in Spain. The seemingly perfect plan goes awry when Prince Edward decides to cancel his trip to spend time with his bride.

If you are in the mood for a corny romantic comedy, then “The Princess Switch” is definitely the movie for you. It is the typical romantic cliché. You can always guess what comes next, because there are no surprises or intriguing plot twists.

The movie could have used a bit more suspense to captivate viewers and not have them rolling their eyes at the triteness of the film. The theme itself is unique, but the way in which the film’s plot unfolds is very conventional.

In addition to the movie’s lack of excitement, it is also insanely unrealistic. In a matter of a few days, Stacy falls in love with Prince Edward and Margaret falls in love with Kevin. Edward and Stacy quickly get married. It all happens so fast and is not practical.

Additionally, not all the acting is convincing. Nick Sagar, who plays Kevin, is not believable in his role. He is too dramatic, so much so that I could not concentrate on the movie and was too focused on his failure to grasp his character adequately.

Nonetheless, the movie captivates the essence of the holiday season and put me in the Christmas mood. The overall aura of the movie radiates the love and happiness that is unique to the holiday season. Yes, it has its imperfections and is a bit too corny for my liking, but it made my heart feel warm. I could not help but find myself smiling as the credits rolled on the screen.