Big Screen Peter: Your Highness

Editor’s note: Peter Lewis has agreed to use whatever it is you call his writing style to provide some measure of analysis to those folks who still go to a theater to see a movie.

review by Peter Lewis

One thing is for certain about “Your Highness” — Natalie Portman has never been hotter. And, for that matter, has never kicked as much ass. Which is saying something for someone who has played the likes of Mathilda in the Professional and Evey in V for Vendetta, etc.

Unfortunately, though Natalie steals much of the show, the film itself isn’t hers. It revolves around Danny McBride as Thadeous, a ne’er-do-well prince and James Franco as his elder brother Fabious, a man without peer or fault, both chivalrous and caring.

Franco pulls off the role with an amusing earnestness, constantly appearing as if he’s in on some unrevealed joke. The film plays on the sensibilities of each character, pulling much of the humor from the dichotomy.

McBride seems to have simply been transplanted from modern times, cursing, smoking and generally carrying on crassly. Though disgruntled at his brother’s abilities and purpose, Thadeous still seems quite content to live out his days with easy maidens and wizard weed.

And that’s certainly not a fault, McBride has taken this sensibility to amazing highs (hey-o!), most notably as Kenny Powers (Eastbound & Down) and Red (Pineapple Express). It’s a brilliant, compelling shtick, but falls a bit flat when transported to days of knighthood and dragons. He still manages to garner plenty of laughs. Plenty. Because the film is certainly humorously inventive, in a perverted adolescent way. Yet it still manages to fall a bit short.

Which is doubly amazing given the level of talent involved in the film.

Franco’s presence in such a chortling, penis-laden goof-fest is easily explainable, having worked with McBride and director David Gordon Green in the past. However, Portman, fresh off her stunning performance in Black Swan, seems to be a bit of a head scratcher. Filming for “Your Highness” took place, however, before Portman’s work with Black Swan as well as Franco’s 127 Hours film (McBride recently joked on a well-listened to radio program that Franco spent the entire film interacting with a rock and that he liked to think he prepared him for that).

However, maintaining comedic relevancy throughout the duration of the film proved difficult. Some of the more pleasing moments arrive with Zooey Deschanel as a virginal princess rescued by Fabius.

After spending her life in confinement at the hands of the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux), she enters the world unaware of the most basic customs. It’s a cute spin on the idealized vision of a rescued maiden, but also serves as an example of the cheap laughs that arrive with “Your Highness.”

There is nothing exalted or high-brow about the film. It’s not a self-aware spoof or satire, it’s straight adolescent humor. So if you’re willing to flip the brain off for about 100 minutes, you’re good to go. Otherwise, might be best to steer clear.

• Your Highness is playing at the Carmike 14 and the Malco Cinema 12 in Fort Smith, and the Malco Van Buren Cinema. Link here for time and ticket info.

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