Now Showing on Cable: “Your Highness”

Making its long awaited debut this weekend on HBO was last year’s “Your Highness”, the medieval sword and sorcery stoner comedy starring Danny McBride, James Franco and Natalie Portman.

It’s the story of two princes. One is the golden glamour boy, constantly triumphing on quests and adventures and furthering the glory of the kingdom.

The other is Danny McBride.

“Your Highness” is a comedy set within the context of a fantasy film. So, while there are knights in shining armor, sword-play, magic spells, etc. they’re also dropping f-bombs, getting baked, and making sex jokes.

At the center of the infantilism is Danny McBride. As the “loser brother” to James Franco’s “favored son” character, McBride brings his patented obnoxious sensibilities to create a character who is oafish, dim witted, and yet somehow, still arrogant. Much like every other character he plays. He’s envious of all of the accolades his brother receives, yet does nothing to earn his own.

So when the opportunity arises for him to prove himself, by joining his brother on a quest to save his brother’s kidnapped bride from the evil wizard, will McBride rise to the occasion? Or just say $&%# it and get stoned?

Along the way on their quest, they run across Natalie Portman, who plays a warrior on a mission of her own. But the real question may be exactly what she’s doing in a movie like this.

The comedy here is crude and offensive. I would normally use the term “juvenile”, but I actually think that that’s being kind. “Infantile” may be more appropriate. Your enjoyment of the film will be directly correlated to how funny you find medieval knights dropping F-bombs, smoking weed, making sexual innuendos, etc.

Personally, I was unimpressed, and I actually usually like McBride. I’m a big fan of “Tropic Thunder”, “Eastbound and Down”, etc. so I was surprised how flat this was.

Lewd, crude and obnoxious, but not very funny.

D