One of the most perplexing mysteries in film history may be how the same man who directed George Washington also directed Pineapple Express and Your Highness. Questions aside, David Gordon Green’s career has taken a turn by implementing the style of his early career into ridiculous comedies, often fueled by cannabis. Your Highness, however, rises only to the level of a cute stoner film featuring a few gags that can keep it all together.
The jealous Thadeous (Danny McBride) fails to show up as the best man in his brother Fabious’s (James Franco) marriage to Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel). Leezar (Justin Theroux) kidnaps Belladonna and plans to rape and impregnate her when the two moons converge, effectively allowing Leezar to take control of the kingdom. Thadeous reluctantly sets out with Fabious and several knights and eventually befriends Isabel (Natalie Portman) to rescue Belladonna.
For a supposed stoner film, Your Highness is relatively tame on the cannabis jokes. Like a stoner flick, it moves from scene to scene with the same ridiculousness and nonsensical reasoning as a conversation in a smoking circle. The cause and effects are linked haphazardly, but the overall journey and rapport between characters is where the film is able to build a decent foundation. The tameness of the marijuana references is proof that Green and the screenwriters still retain some credence to their skills and offer credit to the audience by not forcing the inhalation of obvious jokes into their lungs.
The most impressive scene involves a king placing his hand in a vat of sand, which in turn creates a hand of sand that places the heroes in danger. While the implementation of CGI is adequate at best, the premise of the scene is remarkable and thoughtfully designed. It is essentially proof that some good ideas can indeed come from marijuana-induced writing sessions.
Let’s return briefly to the question regarding Green’s change of course in his filmmaking career. After four critically acclaimed dramatic films, perhaps Green was ready to lighten up — and obviously light up — with Pineapple Express and Your Highness. He is very much a collaborative filmmaker, having worked with talented individuals more than once, enough to raise the question whether Green is really the most important ingredient in the later films in his career and HBO’s Eastbound and Down. One can only wonder where Green’s work will go if he sheds this comedy phase.
After a handful of sporadic belly laughs in Your Highness, the smoke clears, revealing a film that is as disposable as a Bic lighter. Any cult status and replay value will be due to the ensemble performances, which are still not nearly as strong as they could have been, although Green may have indeed found a sweet spot of adequacy for many of the actors and actresses using their typecasting and talents efficiently.
