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Created Apr 24, 2011 06:42PM PST • Edited Jun 05, 2021 09:20PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Your Highness dons the trappings of Ye Olde English knights and damsels, mixes in sorcerers and pagan mythology, then filters the unholy brew through a 21st century slacker’s sensibility. Such low brow humor in high brow settings makes for a fun movie if you don’t mind tongue-deeply-in-cheek comedy.

   Think of it as an American stoner’s reimagining of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. About the stoner part: The movie is not titled Your Highness for nothing. While weed is more peripheral here than in Pineapple Express, key members of the same crew are behind and in-front of the camera.

   Is it funny? Yes, 20% LOL with lots of other humorous gotchas, a few groaners and acceptably few clunkers.

   The whole thing is extravagantly silly, with American actors pretending to be British in a Hollywood spoof of British sword movies. For those who see how this adds to the humor, the satire works well.

   It’s also highly sexualized, with Danny McBride’s ne’er-do-well prince a horndog who counts lust as one of several deadly sins he’s prone to indulging. As is the wont of R-rated comedies these days, gay sexuality drives several jokes, but the movie is mostly a booby trap for hetero guys. For instance, one of its operatically bad villains is called Marteetee (say it aloud), who rules a tribe of well-endowed topless babes.

   One imagines that Danny McBride, his highness himself as the movie’s star and co-writer, must be in Hollywood hog heaven, his low brow success allowing him to function as a veritable Tinseltown Marteetee. Nice work if you can get it.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   It’s Danny McBride’s movie to carry, and he does. Though no Steve Carell or Zach Galifianakis, he’s still a reliably comedic actor, mining his pudgy everyman looks and baser instincts for a consistently funny vibe.

   James Franco scores with several punch lines, proving he’s more than just a straight man. Speaking of straight men, Franco and McBride’s princely brothers mine some obligatory gay humor by pushing the fraternal love angle. This mostly works, even if it’s often groan inducing.

   Natalie Portman is a good sport, lending her moviestar visage and physique as a regal woman warrior. She even allows McBride, Franco and the camera to ogle her perfect ass as she takes a swim.

   The strong supporting cast includes:

   • Toby Jones as a dickless royal functionary.
   • Zooey Deschanel as a busty princess whose virginity is threatened by a dastardly warlock.
   • Damian Lewis as a knight-errant, really errant. Charlie Crews from TV’s Life has an oddball demeanor that’s always a pleasure to observe.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Good 3.0

    The film’s top quality production values are a treat to behold. Amongst the platoons of crew noted in the credits are more than 20 stuntmen, more than 30 singers, and more than 30 visual compositors. 30 singers? What’s up with that?

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play OK 2.5

    Funny enough but nothing brilliant and with several groaners.

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Really Great 4.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.4

    Lots of bare boobs, sexual humor both straight and gay, F-bombs and satiric violence make this a well earned risqué movie.

17. Sex Titillating 2.5

18. Violence Fierce 1.7

19. Rudeness Profane 3.0

21. Reality

    Supernatural 3.7

    Black magic animates much of the proceedings. Silly yes, supernatural definitely.

    Speaking of supernatural, notice how the movie appears to be set in Christian England yet is entirely pagan in its references. For instance, Danny McBride’s Prince often exclaims “My Gods!” Monotheistic? Apparently not.

22. Circumstantial Supernatural 3.1

23. Biological Supernatural 4.0

24. Physical Supernatural 4.0