Your Highness

Your Highness is a movie that seemed like a surefire hit. It was from the same filmmaking team that brought us  Pineapple Express , a stoner comedy that grossed over $100 million on a $25 million budget. Your Highness also has a great cast of actors who have proven to be quite funny, and the story is R-rated and raunchy, the exact kind of comedy that has been extremely successful in recent years ( Wedding Crashers , Superbad  and  The Hangover  just to name a few). However, EVERYONE seems to hate this film and write it off before ever giving it a chance. Why?The main problem is that it was marketed totally wrong. All the trailers (red-band or otherwise) advertised it as a stoner comedy with some fantasy elements, while plastering Natalie Portman all over the posters and TV spots because of her recent award-winning performance in  Black Swan . Naturally, most people (myself included) were expecting something completely different than what they got.In reality, Your Highness is a brilliantly self-aware fantasy-action flick that plays like a big budget sword & sorcery epic, just with some R-rated humor thrown in. And guess what? It totally works! Not only does it work, it actually makes the film feel fresh and original because of it. It sends up the genre's clichés with such style and glee that you can't help but enjoy it. I keep seeing reviews criticizing parts of the film that are supposed to be deliberately cheesy, and I just don't get it (James Franco's "beautiful" singing voice had me in stitches). The film goes for broke, fully aware of its ridiculousness, and I think this tongue-in-cheek nature makes it even more appealing.As a fantasy epic, it can hold its own. The gorgeous scenery matches the beauty and lushness of the  Lord of the Rings  movies, while the elaborate costumes and intricate props further enhance the mythical world and convey a sense of realism. The film's action scenes and stunts are equally impressive, which is hard to do these days in the age of overused CGI. There's a carriage chase in the middle of the film that is a spectacular showcase of kinetic, exciting action and wild stuntwork, all done with practical effects; it looks amazing. Special effects-wise, there is some CGI but it's used sparingly, save for one brutally awesome monster fight, and it still looks good. I was also pleasantly shocked by the amount of bloody violence in the film. It gets pretty gory at times, and I commend this. Most fantasy films skimp on the blood and gore, usually because of their ratings or target audience, so to see a fantasy film that takes advantage of its R rating is quite refreshing.The entire cast does a damn fine job. Danny McBride's biting sarcasm coupled with James Franco's pompous yet charming personality make for a hilarious combination, while Justin Theroux delightfully hams it up as an evil (and highly quotable) sorcerer. Natalie Portman plays her role with intensity and delivers most of her silly dialogue seriously, making it all the funnier. The supporting cast is stellar, with humorous straight-faced turns from Damian Lewis, Toby Jones and the always reliable Charles Dance. Zooey Deschanel isn't given much to do as the damsel in distress but she tries admirably and the relatively unknown Rasmus Hardiker steals a few scenes as McBride's manservant.Special mention must go to Steve Jablonsky's outstanding score: it's big, it's loud and it's awesome. Jablonsky perfectly captures the unique sounds of the fantasy film scores of the 80's, while injecting his trademark orchestral stylings. For me, it's this score that really elevates the film from great to excellent. Even better, the score is a great listen by itself. I've been listening to the soundtrack CD a lot recently and it delivers an invigorating experience.This film is not perfect, with most of its faults stemming from its humor. Some of the jokes fall flat at times, but this is common in most, if not all comedies (except  Ghostbusters . If you don't like that movie, something's wrong with you). The film also overuses a few of its gags, but it's nothing too annoying. The film is still very funny though, and the good far outweighs the bad. I really can't think of anything else to complain about that isn't nitpicking.So all in all, Your Highness functions as both a raunchy comedy and an energetic fantasy adventure that isn't for everyone, but worth look if you like R-rated comedies and/or fantasy flicks.

Strange, all of the negative reviews, and this is why:The trailers made it as clear as the nose on your face as to the type of movie this was going to be. There was no guesswork. There were no assumptions to be had or conjectures to assimilate. It was not meant to be rocket-science by any stretch of the hyphenated word. It was CUT-AND-DRY as to what we were to expect from "Your Highness."So why, in all that is holy, would the negative-reviewing knuckleheads even remotely entertain the thought of attending a movie like this and then expect anything other that what was in the previews? That puzzle is one for the high-thinkers, the philosophers, those involved with the aesthetics of human thought and its subsequent actions. But I have come up with a few theories of my own concerning those goofballs and their reasoning behind reviewing a movie like this:1. They enjoy negativity and go about life on a day-to-day basis doing everything they can to seek out stuff to criticize and then following through with it.2. They lack self-esteem and need to be critical of anything and everything that contains humor so that those who are subject to their criticism may experience a bit of what they feel deep inside of their afflicted, dismayed, and moth-eaten souls. It probably gives them a brief pseudo-sense of purpose, which, of course, is better than having to live with themselves and listening to their own poisonous thoughts for a brief moment in time.3. They are big pessimistic bags of garbage, spewing darkness into the world on a daily basis, and they really should not be going to movies like this for the simple fact that, in their case, it takes MORE facial muscles to smile than it does to frown."Your Highness" had no secrets about the type of movie is was going to be. And everything I expected from it I was given ten-fold. It was hilarious and very tongue-in-cheek at times, it was lewd and crude at other times, and it was bold and meaningful at, still, other times, making for an exceptionally executed movie, rife with hilarity and teeming with nonsensical amusement. The medieval backdrop added wholly to the film's atmosphere as well.Don't listen to the nay-sayers, folks. "Your Highness" comes recommended to all those who can find their own funny bone without effort. It is for people of substance, who like to escape that substance from time to time. It is for the optimistic, glass-is-half-full type of person. It is for those who have no problem laughing at something that is MEANT for laughter and not lame, thin-lipped dissections.All of the actors in this film were clearly having a good time during filming. Natalie Portman was a knockout and always seemed just a frame or two away from cracking up, and I'm almost positive she did many times after the director yelled, "Cut!" Danny McBride was perfect in his obsequious and cowardly performance. And James Franco pulled off the good-son, hero role with ecstatic ease. Other prominent actors were spotted throughout and played their parts with perfection. The writing was good, the directing was top-notch, and overall the production was A-material.As the title of my review suggests, be a yay-sayer, not a nay-sayer!AND FOR YOU BLU-RAY ENTHUSIASTS OUT THERE:PQ: Outstanding! Detail was exquisite, the blacks were nice and inky! Looked simply spectacular on my plasma!AQ: Even better! My home theater was literally rumbling with the sound of horses hooves and carriage wheels!

I have buying movies like this but had a hankering to revisit this one. Watched it several knights in a row in bed.Absolutely ridiculous. Watching Natalie Portman try and keep a straight face throughout the movie is hilarious.Awesome cast. Awesome one liners.

Cheesy movie,but a good laugh laugh

It's really funny

Perfect stoner movie. Must be in the right state of mind and ready to laugh

I thought it was going too be a slow like, and I was wrong, I laughed through most the movie

He never disappoints, though!

Witziger Film mit Kreativen Ideen und Guter Umsetzung

Film molto bello, appena arrivato a casa l'ho subito guardato e il video è l'audio sono di ottima qualità

En mi parecer muy buena comedia de mi ajo james franco

とってもスピーディな納品で、とってもきれいな商品でした。

Ce, film est un pur délice ... humour à prendre au 1000ème degré un Danny MCbride au Top comme toujours (cf kenny powers). ça fait plaisir de voir des acteurs tels que James Franco ou nathalie portman dans des comédies à ne pas prendre au sérieux !!! Je recommande =)