REVIEW: YOUR HIGHNESS

Just saw this. Really enjoyed it.

Not every joke hits but, as stated in the review, the ratio is pretty damn good. The juvenile humor works really well. Yeah, it's dumb and obscene for no good reason but that's exactly why I enjoyed it so much. I also really enjoyed the creature design. The main villain's motives are just so ridiculous you can't help but just laugh at the idea. He basically just wants to bone Zooey. Who can blame him.

I loved that the minotaur was an old school guy in a suit. You very rarely see that nowadays and it is something I wish Hollywood would do more of...practical effects. One thing that does bother me, though, is the use of CGI blood. This film is VERY gory but I just can't stand the sight of CGI blood. I'm not sure if the technology just isn't there yet or what but every time I see CGI blood added to movies it just takes me out of it. Is it odd that I don't question a five headed "hand" dragon but I do question the use of blood effects? That is just a nitpick, though. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and laughed more in a theater than I have in a LONG time.

Having said that, if you are not a McBride fan....STAY AWAY. He plays the same character he has played in all of his other movies; which is fine by me (I could watch that man eat toast and probably laugh my ass off).

This worked for me and my buddies that saw it at midnight. It was exactly as it was advertised. The fantasy is played straight (and well), and the humor is low brow. Maybe I'M juvenile, but hearing someone drop a "fuck" or "shit" while speaking Lords of the Rings-ian....made me laugh every time. McBride is funny as usual. Theroux and the guy playing Courtney steal the show. Franco and Portman (looking as hot as I can ever remember) unfortunately have to play the straight man and woman, but christ.....I had a blast with this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHUD Main Site Feed 

 This is a totally subjective gripe, but I wish the film felt more like the swords & sorcery films it was parodying. It lacks the misty soft tones those films had, as well as the fantastical sun-baked landscapes. This felt like a typical medieval world, with a few monsters thrown in, instead of a weird other world. That’s just me wanting what I want though. 

You're not the only one. I don't exactly want to see something on the level of Lucio Fulchi's Conquest, which must have employed virtually every fog filter and fog machine in Italy, but there is a *look* to these films that people remember and kind of miss; it's not just about content. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by JacknifeJohnny 

but there is a *look* to these films that people remember and kind of miss; it's not just about content. 

Too true. Too true.
 

I agree that I'd like to see a return to the distinctive atmospherics of 80s fantasy flicks, but this is a relatively low-budget parody. They may not have had the option.

Speaking of, that's one of the reasons I'm kinda jazzed about Thor. It looks, visually, like an old-school fantasy/comic movie.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Prankster 

I agree that I'd like to see a return to the distinctive atmospherics of 80s fantasy flicks, but this is a relatively low-budget parody. They may not have had the option.

 

I dunno, is it that much to rent a fog machine?

I liked this, mostly, but it's hard to say whether DGG likes those fantasy movies, or if he's mocking them. Some of the fantasy material is pretty fun, but the plot is desperately uninteresting. And whereas Pineapple Express had some sort of sweetness to the character interactions, there's only a little bit of that tone early on, and it dissipates.

Also, worth mentioning: Natalie Portman is really hilarious in this. Unfortunate that the movie seems to have no idea what to do with her. They should have done one of those "Special Appearance By" credits for her.

I don't know. Most of the movies in the swords and sorcery genre were fairly low budget. If anything, YOUR HIGHNESS probably had a bigger budget (factoring for inflation) than a lot of the films it was parodying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe T 

 

I liked this, mostly, but it's hard to say whether DGG likes those fantasy movies, or if he's mocking them. Some of the fantasy material is pretty fun, but the plot is desperately uninteresting. And whereas Pineapple Express had some sort of sweetness to the character interactions, there's only a little bit of that tone early on, and it dissipates.

 

Also, worth mentioning: Natalie Portman is really hilarious in this. Unfortunate that the movie seems to have no idea what to do with her. They should have done one of those "Special Appearance By" credits for her.

I think the big difference was that PE was an Apatow shepherded film. Whereas Danny McBride and Jody Hill productions generally revel in their lack of heart. And DGG was kind of a hired gun on both films. I did in fact get the sense that DGG has no particular affection for the swords and sorcery genre. I think that's why the film lacks an homage visual style. McBride and Ben Best created the film. They're probably the ones with the genre love.

I'm not the biggest fan of Pineapple Express, and for me, the very best part of the trailers for this film was Justin Theroux, but Jesus Christ, critics are practically wiping their ass with this picture. It isn't the gleeful, thesaurus abusing takedown material present in reviews for Sucker Punch, but it ain't pretty.

I liked it.

Most of the characters in the film had moments that made me laugh. From McBride's choice of a QUEST PET to Courtney's "whaaaaattt" reaction when Toby Jones is revealed to be dickless. Theroux's finest moments come during that mozzarella stick feast with his mothers. And  the stupid loving big brother/schlubby little brother relationship between Franco and McBride worked for me.

Franco: Who gives the warmest hugs???

McBride: Me...

I also enjoyed the perverted wise wizard (he kind of sounded like the crypt keeper), the minotaur dick necklace and Natalie Portman.

Dull. Disappointing. Sprinkled swear words doesn't transform boring fantasy cliche into something interesting. Exception of course being Theroux, who was absolutely stellar.

EDIT: People interested in watching this flick should be watching Stardust instead.

I thought this was merely 'ok'.  Reminded me a lot of Paul, in that with all the talent involved, I expected to like it much more than I did.  Still plenty of laughs, and it hits a lot of the right notes on the fantasy end of things as well (the minotaur was hilarious and gross and awesome), but those elements never quite gel like the stoner beats and action beats in Pineapple Express. Or the stoner stuff and crazy ass fantasy stuff in Land of the Lost, for that matter. 

It'll be interesting to see if Your Highness marks a turning point for McBride.  This is a really weird movie thats getting (unfairly, I think) ripped apart by critics, and I'm wondering if people will have had it with McBride's shtick when all is said and done.  I still love the guy, but I don't see him getting the freedom to do something of this kind of scope again for a while.

I didn't think it was great, but it was definitely entertaining. My favorite part of the film was Franco. His goofy cheerfulness never ceased to amuse me. I think my favorite moment of the film might have been when they were sitting around the fire, and he started making that look at McBride. Also, the very end ("I know what you're doing!"). Seriously, the man is a national treasure.

The mixing of profanity with old-timey adventure dialogue was funnier than it had any right to be, and as everyone else has mentioned, Theroux is fantastic. Not a great movie, but plenty of laughs to make it worth watching.

Meh. Definitely a misfire for everyone involved, I think. But still, a competently made misfire. It's just not that funny. A few decent chuckles to be had, but nothing more. It's kind of weird, how I feel about it. It somehow shows how talented everyone involved is while simultaneously being such a mediocre film in most aspects. 

But I know if I was in their apparent target demographic (13 year old boys, mostly) I might very well be all over this thing. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeypants 

But I know if I was in their apparent target demographic (13 year old boys, mostly) I might very well be all over this thing. 

This is what is going to really hurt the film at the box office. The demo that will most assuredly love the film can't legally see it without a parent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeypants 

Meh. Definitely a misfire for everyone involved, I think. But still, a competently made misfire. It's just not that funny. A few decent chuckles to be had, but nothing more. It's kind of weird, how I feel about it. It somehow shows how talented everyone involved is while simultaneously being such a mediocre film in most aspects. 

 

But I know if I was in their apparent target demographic (13 year old boys, mostly) I might very well be all over this thing. 

I think the problem is that it was a comedy without many jokes, relying on the well trod public personas of Franco and McBride to stay afloat. They're funny guys but it just isn't enough. The writing was abysmal.

When...

Nearly peed myself. I watched this, HOT TUB TIME MACHINE, and MACGRUBER this weekend. Laughed a lot ,I have to say.

Don't know if I'm a prude but I was pretty shocked to see an erect penis in an R rated movie.   I'm sure having it be a fantasy character and all helped with the MPAA but it was still a surprising (and funny).  

As for the movie itself, I think it's a rental or a matinee at best.   There's enough there to keep from regretting your time with the movie.   I'm curious if it will be like PE in a way that repeated viewings will make it better?

It's been said before but as it stands, it would've been better if they left all the pot humor out if "that's" how they were going to do it. The only good bit of it was when Thadius sneaks off during the wedding to get stoned and chase goats with that goat-man thing. That was fucking hilarious and one of the only times I laughed hard. Almost everything* else was just overly-lame, "hur hur, he said 'sticky-icky!' Comedy!" rubbish. I was actually shocked there was anything that lazy in a film from this group.

*The bit with the Wize Wizard was pretty good as well.

I saw this at a test screening last November and I am baffled by the largely negative reaction. I laughed my arse off the whole way through it. Looking at the running time though it seems like ten minutes or so was trimmed from the version I saw. There were so many funny moments and lines that six months later me and my brother are still quoting to each other.

I do have a very silly sense of humour though...

Oddly enough, Marteetee was EXACTLY the sort of fucking horror-show that my mind always conjured up when I had to look at Domingo's avatar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeypants 
Marteetee

I thought that scene was so friggin weird... the dude and his tribe, the hand-hydra, etc, that it was kinda brilliant. Wish the movie had more weirdness like that. I also loved the LABYRINTH meets CONAN homage in the maze at the Unicorn Sword. "Where do you want to go?"

And hearing Portman talk about her "burning beaver" was a treat.

Fish fingers! Thoreaux was great in this. Simultaneously threatening and awkward.

I think it helps to imagine a group of dudes/nerds playing D&D together (with one lax DM), and this is the adventure that materializes from that playing session, word for word. Reminds me of those basement days of yore.
 

Loved this as stated above. Really surprised my best friend didn't like this. We didn't see it together but we ran into each other the other night at the bar and I was going to ask him if he wanted to see it (I wanted to see it again). We have the exact same sense of humor which is why we have been best friends for years and he is going to be the best man at my wedding. Our exchange;

Him: "Hey, did you see Your Highness yet?"

Me: "Actually I was going to ask if..."

Him: "Fuckin' TERRIBLE."

Me: "Oh yeah?"

Him: "Yeah, it wasn't funny at all. I laughed one time and that was it. Horrible."

Me: "Well, glad you told me. I'll probably just wait for the DVD."

This is really a love it or hate it movie. Much like Land of the Lost (which I didn't enjoy).

Quote:

Originally Posted by DARKMITE8 

I thought that scene was so friggin weird... the dude and his tribe, the hand-hydra, etc, that it was kinda brilliant.
 

 

Yeah. I can definitely say I didn't see it coming. I was expecting some sort of comedic cameo the way they made mention of Marteetee and the way they showed the empty chair. And then... THAT FUCKING GUY comes out and just... man. That was honestly fucking disturbing in a very deep way. Actually made me believe in his Suspiria remake a bit more, haha.
 

I thought I had I prepared myself (re: Joeypants' comments) for how lazy this movie was, but, a la Sucker Punch marketing I Was Not Prepared. Marteetee was maybe a little odd but it mostly felt like bad guy with which to introduce Portman or a reference I didn't get. He wasn't funny or interesting, like most of the fantasy elements he took up screen time with something that would be in any fantasy film (a perverse villain). I felt like that they missed a chance to have his dead face poke out of the ground when he fell into the bowl, in the same way his fingers became the dragon.

I enjoyed the film enough, laughed throughout, but I kept thinking of the number 50 million, which I think I read here, at the end. 50 million for that? And then of the Legend of Neil which is a similar lowbrow fantasy story, but which I would argue is funnier in its specific satire of the Zelda games. Green here and in Pineapple Express floods his movies with action setpieces and bland recreations of the genre the movie's set in. They don't work as straight man to the characters or the comedy, they just kind of sit there, and you wait for them to have more on their mind and they don't.

I'm with Joey in the meh camp. Its hard to believe there aren't bigger laughs here. It just doesn't really click and I have a hard time explaining why.

I grinned and chuckled here and there but thats about it. Disappointing.

You know what this movie reminds me of? One of those bizarre post-Monty Python/Terry Gilliam fantasy-comedies from the late 70s and early 80s. I'm thinking in particular of Jabberwocky and Eric the Viking--the kind that piled weirdness and grotesquery on top of each other while forgetting to be funny for long stretches. And yet I have a nostalgia for that kind of thing and admire its brazenness. Between the gigantic WTF-ness of the naked Toby Jones scene and then Marteetee (and the minotaur, to an extent), this really did feel like one of these kinds of movies.

Agreed about the oddly lazy script, though. Practically every scene had some basis for a good comedic bit that was practically ignored. Having medieval fantasy characters casually toss around profanity is indeed oddly funny, but it's not enough to carry a movie in and of itself. They needed more of Thaddeus abusing Courtney and the stoned-ness of Franco's character.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Prankster 

You know what this movie reminds me of? One of those bizarre post-Monty Python/Terry Gilliam fantasy-comedies from the late 70s and early 80s. I'm thinking in particular of Jabberwocky and Eric the Viking--the kind that piled weirdness and grotesquery on top of each other while forgetting to be funny for long stretches. And yet I have a nostalgia for that kind of thing and admire its brazenness. Between the gigantic WTF-ness of the naked Toby Jones scene and then Marteetee (and the minotaur, to an extent), this really did feel like one of these kinds of movies.

I agree. It's a bit of a shame that YOUR HIGHNESS wasn't as lived-in, layered or textured as those early Gilliam flicks though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ali 

I think the problem is that it was a comedy without many jokes, relying on the well trod public personas of Franco and McBride to stay afloat. They're funny guys but it just isn't enough. The writing was abysmal.

I totally agree with this Ali. I like every actor in the film and I like David Gordon Green and I like silly humour plenty but the writing feels so damn lazy it bummed me out. Too many jokes I could've written myself, and I'm shithouse at writing jokes.

I enjoyed parts of it, like the moment the big brute who comes along for the attack on Theroux's castle opens his mouth and how Portman somehow elevates her character above the malaise of half-assedness that leaks out of the majority of the movie, and I can't not enjoy watching Danny McBride, but overall I was left thinking it was a mammoth waste of talent and opportunity and $50,000,000.