I never saw any of the trailers for "First Daughter" and so don't know how the movie was promoted but I am guessing that the promotion may have portrayed it as something different to what it is as for some reason it's not that highly rated or maybe it's because in the same year there was the similar "Chasing Liberty". To be honest it's by no means a great movie but it is one which is middle of the road average with its teen romantic drama style, basically the sort which is pleasant but forgettable. Maybe that is part of the issue, it being very typical teen romantic drama as the set up of the President's daughter heading off to college throws up a few possibilities for original comedy and depth which never arrives. But it is fun, it is extremely well cast and if you watch it with minimal expectations it will put a smile on your face even if there is nothing but cliche going on.

Samantha Mackenzie (Katie Holmes - Batman Begins) has always lead a fairytale life, not surprising as the only daughter of the President growing up in the Whitehouse. But now as she heads off to college she just wants to be treated like a normal teenager, not so easy when she has a small army of secret service agents who follow her everywhere as well as the press reporting on her every move and indiscretion. So unhappy is she that she can't lead a normal life that her father arranges for the number of agents to be cut down but doesn't tell her that instead he has placed one undercover as a college student. And when Samantha falls for the handsome and protective James (Marc Blucas) she has no idea that he is that undercover agent.

So storyline wise "First Daughter" may not be original but it is a good idea of the President's daughter heading off to college and having to deal with plenty of issues. It has the potential to deliver an amusing insight into these trials and tribulations from security through to special treatment and feeling ostracized for being someone special. And to be honest for the first 30 minutes of so director Forest Whitaker does try to give us a fun look at these difficulties from secret service agents on every door, over eager to protect as well as Samantha's struggle not to embarrass her father whilst trying to enjoy college life.

But then "First Daughter" evolves into a very typical teen romance as Samantha meets James the handsome good guy and we get a procession of cliches. It is all very pleasant but also very obvious as they spend time together, evading the press, going to the fair and yes eventually kissing. And to be honest it doesn't take you long to realise that James is in fact an undercover agent there to protect Samantha, not to fall in love with her. After the truth inevitably comes out there isn't much more to the movie as Samantha is upset but tows the Presidential line so to speak.

And that is sadly what is wrong with "First Daughter" as whilst this romantic drama is pleasant and often fun it is all too obvious and generic. If only more had been done with the difficulties of Samantha fitting in and trying to be normal then maybe this would have been a much more enjoyable movie with some originality to it. And in a way that is why I suppose many ended up disappointed because it does end up so generic.

But whilst "First Daughter" ends up a very run of the mill teen romantic drama it is extremely well cast. Michael Keaton makes for a very good President and also a father, especially during the scene where he has to leave Samantha at college and Marc Blucas maybe be a generic love interest as James at least he does look the part. But more significantly it is Katy Holmes who is perfectly cast because she has this youthful glamour about her, a sort of princess vibe going on and it is spot on for the character. Holmes may not be tested when it comes to the actual acting but she plays the role with the mix of humour and vulnerability required.

What this all boils down to is that "First Daughter" is a pleasant, fun movie but one which is also very run of the mill and average. In a way this routine teen romantic drama is a waste of a good idea, as the trials and tribulations of the President's daughter going to college would have made a fun movie without the romantic drama but instead what you get is what you will have seen in numerous other teen romantic dramas, a bit of fairytale fantasy and fun.