Your Highness (2011)

Written by Danny McBride and Ben Best
Directed by David Gordon Green

If you aren't down with Danny McBride's brand of humor, you'll want to stay far away from this one. Combining the vast and vehement ignorance of Kenny Powers and Fred Simmons, Thaddeus (Danny McBride) is the biggest dolt yet. Apparently conceived while playing a game of "what's it about?", a game Danny McBride and David Green play in between shots.

So while the script might not be the most insightful, it's definitely funny in parts, but I think the main problem most audiences will have with it is the genre of fantasy isn't that big to begin with, to do a movie referencing and making fun of them pares down the amount of people that could get the joke to a small portion. Everyone else seemingly feels left out of the joke.

The story follows Thaddeus, a lazy prince who doesn't do anything very princely, he leaves that to his older brother Fabious (James Franco). Instead, Thaddeus prefers to smoke wizard's weed and wrestle around with his servant Courtney (Rasmus Hardiker), flaunting any responsibility.

When Fabious comes home from one of his quests, he only wants his brother Thaddeus by his side, but Thaddeus is jealous of Fabious and his new bride, Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel), who has been held captive by the evil warlock Leezar (Just Theroux). It's all campy goodness, with Fabious and Thaddeus going on their first quest together, to save Belladonna.

They gain a fellow traveler in the beautiful and tough Isabel (Natalie Portman), who is part of a long order of Golden Knights sworn to protect the world against Leezar's evil plan. After explaining all of that, I know it sound silly, but it all kind of works. It's not bowl you over hilarious, but the sly nods and hints to films like Excalibur are enough to keep people smiling.

Franco and McBride have a great report together, and they use it to maximum effect. Again though, if you aren't 100% into Danny McBride's style of comedy, this movie is sure to turn you off, as it's as petulant and ignorant as any of the characters he's ever played. The major difference here is there is an innocence to the character, which characters like Fred or Kenny don't have. They're just out-and-out dicks. And so is Thaddeus, to a point.

The stylish direction and fancy special f/x make this more than just a comedy, it's a fantasy film in its own right, with detailed design, meticulously crafted creatures, and a lot of humor at the expense of 80's fantasy films. Not a total laugh riot, but if you are a McBride fan, it's right up your alley, and this will be a must buy Blu Ray for many stoners in years to come.

8.6/10 (B+)