Your Highness

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Your Highness Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Ridiculous fantasy comedy is more crass, violent than funny.

R 2011 102 minutes
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Parents say

age 16+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 16+

Based on 9 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this wildly profane, over-the-top medieval fantasy adventure from the director of Pineapple Express has two stars who are likely to appeal to teens: James Franco and Natalie Portman. But this is a raunchy, "hard R" comedy that isn't age appropriate for younger viewers. It's filled with vulgar jokes and cursing ("f--k," "s--t," and more), and there are tons of references to sex, as well as some nudity (breasts, a woman's bottom), drug use, and drinking. And there's plenty of violence -- in the form of sword-fighting, gory battles, torturous creature deaths, and fight scenes -- too.

Community Reviews

Hollie R.
Hollie R. Adult
August 12, 2017
age 18+

Rape TW and terrible accents

I really like these actors but this was really poor. Full of pointless swearing, the accents were so bad which made it hard to watch. The story was ok, as was theviolence, I was disappointed at the way they nonchalantly dealt with rape. There's a big final 'showdown' where it seems like someone is being raped and is tied down and forced by a spell to essentially 'want it', (I think it turned out she wasnt but it was hard to tell), this isn't a good message for kids and pretty horrible for people who have been sexually assaulted. That whole thing just ruined the film completely.

This title has:

Too much swearing
Julia from Sweden
Julia from Sweden Adult
November 17, 2011
age 17+

Weird, very weird. Occasionally funny.

Occasionally funny, but unless you want so see (or hear) good actors make fools of themselves (and sever penises) this is not for you. American pie meets monty python. I thought Portman had a reputation to think about? Danny McBride, Natalie Portman, James Franco, Charles Shaughnessy.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Prince Thadeous (Danny McBride) is sick and tired of watching his brother, Fabious (James Franco), reap the accolades time and again. Fabious is a brave, strong, swashbuckling warrior, while Thadeous is content to malinger, bed women (or try to), drink too much, and get into trouble. When the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux) steals Fabious' new beloved, Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel), and attacks their kingdom, the king (Charles Dance) orders Thadeous to join his brother on a journey to avenge their losses, defend their land, and free Belladonna. But Thadeous isn't quite sure he's up to the task. And is the mysterious Isabel (Natalie Portman), who gets him and his brother out of a bind, friend or foe?

Is It Any Good?

YOUR HIGHNESS is so ridiculous, so silly, so trying too hard that it's not even so-bad-it's-genius good. That's not to say it's completely unfunny. Some scenes are so bizarre -- Portman battling a monster surrogate for a villain's hand (confused yet?), for example -- that you just have to laugh out loud. Still, most of the laughs that Your Highness elicits are chuckles that say, "Finally, something genuinely funny! I'm so relieved, so here you go."

You can tell that the filmmakers meant well, but, honestly, despite the entertaining special effects, the whiz-bang fight scenes, and the sweet presence of Deschanel, this movie's a mess. McBride isn't all that funny; Franco's better, but only just; and Portman's fine -- but it's an earnest fine, as if she doesn't belong at all. A send-up of the fantasy genre is a brilliant idea, when it's executed correctly. This one gets it half-right at best.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's style of humor. It's clearly meant to be over the top -- what's the appeal of that kind of comedy?

  • Would the movie be as funny without all of the sex, swearing, and violence?

  • How does this movie compare to other fantasy adventures? Would it work as a straight fantasy, without the crude humor? Why or why not?

Movie Details

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