America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story is a 2003 American Made-for-TV Movie directed by Eric Laneuville that follows the life of JFK Jr. (Kristoffer Polaha) as he struggles with his father's legacy and being intensely scrutinized by the press.
The movie also stars Portia de Rossi, Jacqueline Bisset, Jennifer Baxter, and Colin Fox.
It aired on January 12, 2003.
Tropes for the film:
- Awful Wedded Life: The press as well as John's fangirls try to paint his marriage to Carolyn as this, calling her everything from a snob to an airhead.
- Beauty Equals Goodness: Played with among two female mourners outside of the Kennedys' home: one was a beautiful brunette and the other was an unattractive redhead. While both shared the same low opinion of JFK Jr.'s wife Carolyn out of jealousy, the brunette at least expressed genuine sympathy for Caroline's mother for having to bury two of her daughters.
- Biopic: Based on the life of JFK Jr.
- Broken Ace: Downplayed with for John. He's seen as (prior to his marriage) "America's most famous bachelor", is handsome, and comes from a wealthy and well-connected family, but also struggles with everyday challenges that are enhanced because he's a public figure, such as failing his bar exam on multiple occasions, trying to keep a fledgling business afloat, and his complicated love life.
- Celebrity Is Overrated: An ongoing theme of the film for John. Aside from having the impossible task to trying to get out of his father's shadow and seeking to have meaningful relationships with people who don't just love him for his name and his money, given how much he's been hounded by the press from the time he was a child, he soon grows disgusted by them, especially after he marries Carolyn.
- Character Title: John F. Kennedy Jr.
- The Film of the Book: The movie is based on Christopher Andersen's book, The Day John Died.
- The Fashionista: Beautiful, slim former model Carolyn wears very high-end and fashionable clothing. Her first encounter with John is even in her place of work, a Calvin Klein department store.
- Foregone Conclusion: Anyone who knows about JFK Jr.'s life knows that he will die in 1999 in a plane crash with his wife and sister-in-law, dashing any hopes of anyone who wanted to see him run for president.
- Freudian Excuse: Jackie is explicitly against John dating Daryl Hannah, particularly because she is an actress. Jackie has had her (or rather, her husband's) own infamous dalliance with an actress...
- Historical Domain Character:
- John F. Kennedy Jr., son of JFK and Jackie.
- Jacqueline Kennedy, Caroline and Jack's mother.
- Caroline Kennedy, Jack Jr.'s sister.
- Carolyn Bessette, Jack's wife.
- My God, What Have I Done?: John feels guilty after publicly criticizing his cousins in his magazine, especially after Michael dies on New Year's Eve 1997 from playing football while skiing.
- Outliving One's Offspring: As noted above, Carolyn and her sister Lauren die young with their mother having to grieve them.
- Paparazzi: They are abundant in the story, and of the male and female variety. The latter one angering John so much that he jumped on her car and screamed at her to leave him and his wife alone, only for her to scream back how "it's a free country".
- Suddenly Shouting: John shouts at Daryl to make up her mind due to her wishy-washy response to him requesting them to visit his dying mother.
- This Is Unforgivable!: In a past incident of Jackie's treatment after her husband's death, a random woman angrily confronts her during an outing his her children about marrying the Greek billionaire shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, referring to him as a "blank check".
