Your Highness - movie review

I must admit, I've always been a fan of James Franco..until lately. The last few movies I've seen him in were kind of has-been like...for some reason. I didn't like him in EAT PRAY LOVE. Wasn't even fond of him in 27 Hours. He didn't even look all that comfortable at the Oscars.  He just looked tired, I guess. But then again, this actor is going to college, playing a villain on General Hospital and...possibly the hardest working actor out there.

But then..Your Highness came along. This renewed my faith in him..a silly comedy like this. Oh, he was definitely in his element, and it didn't even matter how bad he sounded when he sang with Zooey Deshchanel..it was just funny.

Your Highness was written by Danny McBride and Ben Best. Danny also starred in the film. You might know him best from his HBO show, Eastbound & Down. So you know, almost anything goes if McBride has anything to do with it. Even so, it was a well written script, an epic storyline done in the tradition of the Princess Bride, well sort of.

Here you have Prince Fabious (James Franco) the great one and his brother Prince Thadious (Danny McBride) not so great. Of course, the crusader Fabious brings home his wife to be Not-So Bright Belladonna played by the sweet Deschanel. What I liked about this story was the fact that the prince wanted to show uneducated Belladonna the world and educate her.. since she had been kidnapped from the time she was a  baby for only one thing, the key to making a dragon for the bad guy, Leezar, played splendidly by Justin Theroux.

Oh, the things they get warrior girl Isabel (Natalie Portman) to say in this film! Lets just say she knows how to save the day. This film has a wonderful cast of actors in it, from Damien Lewis to Toby Jones. But one stand-out to mention is Rasmus Hardiker who played Prince Thadious' side-kick Courtney. He was definitely perfect for the role.

Rasmus Hardiker, 25 from the UK.

There are definitely some surprises in the film. I'm not sure I should mention them or not. One I can think of..OK, two that might be rather disgusting..OK..maybe it was three, but still it was a fun movie. Everyone gave it their best shot. I must admit, I felt Franco gave it his all, and I love that sweet smile of his. I started to think, too bad he couldn't be in the Starz cast of Camelot. I would really like to see a film with Franco and Jamie Campbell Bower. (I know, I'm getting way off the beaten path now...)

Truly, it will be one of those films for your DVD library, to pull out when you need a laugh. And you'll want to watch it more than once so you can catch all the clever dialogue. Yeah, this was a lot of fun to watch.

STORYLINE: Throughout history, tales of chivalry have burnished the legends of brave, handsome knights who rescue fair damsels, slay dragons and conquer evil. But behind many a hero is a good-for-nothing younger brother trying just to stay out of the way of those dragons, evil and trouble in general. Danny McBride and James Franco team up for an epic comedy adventure set in a fantastical world-Your Highness. As two princes on a daring mission to save their land, they must rescue the heir apparent's fiancée before their kingdom is destroyed. Thadeous (McBride) has spent his life watching his perfect older brother Fabious (Franco) embark upon valiant journeys and win the hearts of his people. Tired of being passed over for adventure, adoration and the throne, he's settled for a life of wizard's weed, hard booze and easy maidens. But when Fabious' bride-to-be, Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel), gets kidnapped by the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux)...