I really didn't want to watch this. Only my compulsive side to complete everything had me give it a try since it was on my DVR list.
My first impression was that both Walker and Emma were too disruptive and with the personality to go with it. I wouldn't think either should have survived to the first commercial. "Perhaps concentrating on your work and not debating with other students will help you not burn down the manor."
Henry's obnoxious arrogance really made it hard to get to the second commercial. It ticked me off even more that Emma gets blamed for Henry grabbing her bottle. And that's the point where Henry's personality changes 100% in under a minute, which is a plot device I hate in this genre movie.
Emma has a positive and energetic personality and yet the first 40% or so of the movie is depressing. There are brief interactions between the leads, but to that point they don't have much connection.
I have wondered if this movie is meant to be a tribute to butling or a parody. The latter idea was reinforced when Emma thought she could change Henry's attitude with that lame movie. Emma's dedication is even more mystifying after Henry's speech about the time requirement of the profession. Why would a vivacious young lady like Emma sacrifice her entire life like that? 1 day off in a year?
That 40% point was significant. From that point on, the positive aspects of both leads' personalities, especially Emma's, starts to come out. And Stacey Farber, as Emma, paints a really appealing character.
The story seems unusual. The ending is interesting. Some of it was predictable. Some of it was a surprise. Some of it, I'm not exactly sure what happened.
If you stick with it, it's really not that bad.
