Your Highness (2011)

I don't quite get the almost universal hate that 'Your Highness' has gotten over the years. It's a stoner comedy. Stupid for sure, but often cleverly so. The jokes come at a brisk clip and yet it still tells a traditionally satisfying sort of hero's journey.The cast is certainly game. Led by Danny McBride, who still manages to be likable even when he's being a jerk, they fully sell-out and just go for it here.And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Steve Jablonsky's score. Rather than going for something comedic, he plays it straight, delivering an epic score worthy of an actual fantasy adventure.

I came to this film with low expectations and what can I say, I chuckled a few times and rather enjoyed this stoner/slacker modernist take of a medieval adventure.Danny McBride (Thadeous) and James Franco (Fabious) are two princes on a dangerous mission to save their land and rescue Fabious's fiancée Zooey Deschanel (Belladonna.)Older brother Fabious has always been valiant. Thadeous prefers booze, weed and easy maidens. When it comes to combat he tends to stay back. Joined by Natalie Portman (Isabel) a warrior with her own agenda they go on a journey where they meet evil wizards, vanquish terrifying creatures and treacherous knights.This is a silly low brow film with a penchant for a lot of penis jokes and other smutty type of humour. Its not quite Monty Python. Everyone speaks in cod English accents and seem to enjoy themselves including Portman who had recently won a Best Actress Oscar when she made this film. Franco comes across as a bit vacant though.The humour is hit and miss but there is nothing wrong with some hearty, naughty silliness.

Fabious (James Franco) is the heroic perfect son of King Tallious. Thadeous (Danny McBride) is the pathetic lazy brother. After defeating the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux), Fabious proposes to marry the virgin Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel) who he rescued from a tower. Fabious's Knights Elite led by Boremont (Damian Lewis) ridicules Thadeous. Julie (Toby Jones) is a courtier. When Belladonna is kidnapped by Leezar, Thadeous is forced to go on the quest with Fabious. On the way, they are rescued by the skilled fighter Isabel (Natalie Portman) who agrees to travel together.Danny McBride is a little too mean-spirited. It's good that he's pathetic. It's off-putting for him to be so bitter. I feel like there is a missing element in the comedy group. It needs a goofy fun guy that somebody like Seth Rogen could play. There is a lightness that is missing from this comedy. The jokes are adolescent but workable and sometimes even funny. The addition of Natalie Portman is good but she comes in after around half of the movie is over. Her best quality is to be the straight man calling out McBride. She improves the group dynamics markedly. I want her in the movie earlier. I just think that something is missing from the Franco McBride pairing.

YOUR HIGHNESSI know this movie got slated in the cinema, and I can kind of understand why... but it wasn't as bad as everyone made out.The movie is about two Princes. One is very brave and successful, the other lazy and useless. But when the bride of the successful prince gets kidnapped they both have to go on a quest to rescue her.I did laugh through this and it was very funny. The main problem I have with it is none of the jokes were original, we have seen all of these jokes and million times before.The trailer for this film makes the movie look very good, the problem is most of the funny bits are in the trailer.I like the fantasy element in this film the magic, the witches, I think they're very good and it makes the film a lot more fun to watch. The effects were also very good during the moments.The acting was pretty bad throughout the entire film. I think it was acted this way on purpose as it is a comedy and the actors are in this film up generally pretty good in their previous movies.The film stars Danny McBride, Natalie Portman & James Franco.This film was not great it was pretty standard and a typical comedy that we have seen 100 times, but it was entertaining and funny in places.I'll give this film 6 out of 10."if your vagina is anything like my hand there will be no problems"For more reviews please like my Facebook page: Ordinarily person movie reviews.