Strong and sweet Barbie emerges again in 'The Princess and the Pauper'

By NANCY CHURNIN
DALLAS MORNING NEWS
One thing you have to give Barbie credit for: The girl knows how to reinvent herself. The one-time epitome of passive femininity has become bold and brainy in her enormously popular direct-to-DVD and video movies, starting with "Barbie in the Nutcracker" and continuing with "Barbie as Rapunzel" and "Barbie of Swan Lake."
Now Barbie stars in "Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper," voiced again by the honeyed tones of Kelly Sheridan. And once again, the story offers us a strong, yet sweet Barbie, here in the dual roles of Princess Anneliese and look-alike seamstress Erika.
Princess Anneliese must marry King Dominick to save her bankrupt kingdom. But the princess-geologist, who loves learning, would prefer to wed her poor but good-hearted tutor, Julian. Meanwhile, the queen's trusted adviser, Preminger, played with enthused villainy by Martin Short, kidnaps Anneliese as part of his plot to become king.
Brave Julian persuades the poor seamstress Erika to pretend to be Anneliese to buy time while he tries to rescue the princess. But while Anneliese is away, guess whom Dominick falls in love with?