Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s new enterprise torn aside as ‘worst documentary ever seen’
Reviews for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest media product are in as fans and critics alike are left divided over their movie, Cookie Queens, which was released in the USA last week
Reviews for Harry and Meghan’s new documentary are in (Image: Getty Images)
The reviews are in for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest media venture – and they are underwhelming to say the least.
Since stepping down as working royals in 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have tried their hardest to make an economic success outside the Royal Family.
As well as Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever, they have also tried their hands at podcasting while both Meghan and Harry have featured in Netflix shows as part of their deal with the subscription-based service.
Their latest film, called Cookie Queens was released in the USA last week (August 7). Directed by Alysa Nahmias, the documentary, about US girl scouts selling cookies to raise money across a six-week period, has received very mixed reviews from critics and audiences.
The show follows young people engaging in a tradition that has been going since World War One. It has divided critics and members of the public alike. The film also reportedly marks the Harry and Meghan’s respective debuts as executive producers.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle(Image: Getty)
Writing on Rotten Tomatoes, William S said of the 91-minute film: “One of the worst documentaries I have ever seen.
“It was honestly the most boring film from start to finish. I did not go into it with a biased opinion and was hoping to see a good film, but I was seriously let down.”
Another, Jennifer R, said: “While the kids are cute, the script is boring. It feels overly managed with staged drama. It didn’t seem real, based on my experience with selling girl scout/brownie cookies.”
In contrast, Alice K said on the same site: “I loved it. The girls were great showing different personalities and perspectives. For those of us who sold cookies ages ago, it is a real nostalgia trip.”
There has been division amongst film critics too. Variety described the film, produced by the couple’s firm Archewell Productions, as having “too much of a reality-show ramble”.
Critic Owen Gleiberman wrote: “Cookie Queens is a movie about precocious American girls learning to work the system, not fight it.
“The movie unfolds entirely in the present and never gives you even a fleeting sense of the past, of how Girl Scout Cookies rose in prominence to become the phenomenon they are today.”
Others, though, disagreed with that sentiment.
The Boston Globe was more positive. Their review said the documentary had some “surprising honesty and more than a little bite”.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit as working royals in 2020(Image: Getty)
When it comes to cold hard revenue, the film has so far brought in just £250,000 from around 446 cinemas following it’s first screening at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year.
The project marks Harry and Meghan’s latest foray into the media world as speculation grows over how much longer they will continue to be based in the USA.
Harry in particular has been spending more time in the United Kingdom, with Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet joining them on a visit earlier this summer.
During that visit, as well as engaging in duties related to Harry’s Invictus Games project, the couple and their children reportedly saw King Charles and Queen Camilla.
According to the Daily Express the pair are reportedly planning a more substantive return to the UK, even if it wouldn’t be permanent or due to happen anytime soon. Any move is alleged to be part of a ‘reverse Megxit’, in effect a reverse of the action they took at the start of 2020, but this has not been confirmed.
