Your Highness (2011)

The following piece will be even more gibbering and uneven than usual. Last week i was lucky enough to win tickets to see Your Highness but it was also going to be attended by its star and current comedy great Danny MacBride. I literally travelled hundreds of miles and 6hrs on a bus to go because i had to. The guy has not put a foot wrong in my book and even if the rest of a movie's crappy, he ain't. I think we were going to cock a snoot at MacBride, he does play the same sort of boisterous self-important cruel prick in all his roles but i like that guy. He's the epitome of shit-talking asshole, i wish i could get away with being. He hits a great cathartic sweet spot. But as excited as i was to see his take on a meta-swords and scorcery comedy, i had grave concerns. In fact, i can't remember when i last worried so much about a film's overall tone BEFORE i saw the film but i was concerned that they would really miss the groove of the current brat-comedy
(which i love) and the fantasy setting. I mean of course, a film with mythical creatures and swearing and pot smoking sounds like the ramblings of that stoned kid in school who made doodles in class and wore Anthrax t-shirts on wear-your-own-clothes days; i think even for someone who doesn't think about things like, it's a tough concept to hang your hat on... Is it spoof? will it make logical sense? It's neither fare nor foul.
I'm happy to report that MacBride and director David Gordon Green actually land it. The tact is basically we're going to play whatever crazy shit we've come up with as straight as possible. I really don't know who this film is aimed at apart from stoners (don't make a movie for stoners-one of them will watch it and the rest will just torrent the shit outta it...) but i think a good test to see of you'll find it funny would be whether the idea that James Franco could possibly be MacBride's older brother is funny to you. They mention it once and don't linger on it but that's kinda the level here. MacBride is great this, as is not-oft seen actor/currently hot screenwriter Jason Theraux as the baddie Lazar. And as much as i want to hate him for having the comedy acting life i always wanted- Rasmus Hardiker has paid many dues in tv comedies and really runs with the great opportunity he's been given.
He shows no fear in riffing with a team of seasoned improvisers. It's not wholly amazing or the funniest films I'll see this year but I was laughing consistently through out and it's quite ambitious to try to make something like this. I don't think it will be as popular as it should be; i'm certain the subject matter will put people off but i'm also sure it'll be a gradual hit on dvd.
And obviously, i was excited to drink in the presence of Danny MacBride (no homo) afterwards and he was great answering questions on Eastbound And Down and Pineapple Express and he brought Rasmus out with him, who seemed like a nice guy too. Prick.

I watched Your Highness (2011) at the cinema.
My 2011 in Movies will return with Tomorrow When The War Began (2010)...