Comments on: YOUR HIGHNESS

By: HOME VIDEO PICKS – Hammer to Nail

HOME VIDEO PICKS – Hammer to Nail — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:39:37 +0000

[…] Highness (Universal) — Read my semi-review of this subversive romp, which includes links to a somewhat extensive set report I embarked on […]

By: Tully

Tully — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:28:00 +0000

You are totally right that OBSERVE AND REPORT is actually as apt a comparison as you can make to YOUR HIGHNESS, even removing the Rough House/college buddies element from the equation. Jody and David both have a burning drive to push buttons and see just how much they can get away with, and even though that sounds mischievous and frisky, it’s not like they don’t want their movies to do well and be appreciated. It’s just that their minds are both so very TWISTED.

By: cp

cp — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:06:00 +0000

Got it. Thanks for the thoughtful and prompt response. I think it’s safe to say the reason this got made is that these guys are hot right now, and with heat comes leverage to (within reason) do pretty much whatever you want (mind you I’m saying this as a Danny McBride/Rough House fan.) Not that everything’s an automatic green light, but Treme wouldn’t have happened before The Wire.

What’s more interesting to me is that Observe and Report (one of my 2009 faves) happened the way it did.

By: Tully

Tully — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:07:00 +0000

cp,

Not trying to be vague, but these guys are my friends so for me to talk about the film on “good/entertaining/worth seeing” terms seems like a conflict of interest. Even writing this piece probably has people saying, “Yeah, okay, whatever dude.”

More to the point, it’s hard for me to comment on this type of film since I’m so naive about the fantasy genre in general (I feel like I did see Black Knight though I have no recollection of it, and I haven’t seen Year One either). So even without my personal baggage, I wouldn’t feel comfortable writing a review of this type of movie.

Having said that, I’d have to say that what distinguishes YOUR HIGHNESS from the other movies you mentioned is that the trajectory of this particular project from tossed-off-idea to actual-multiplex-spectacle is exceptionally mind-blowing and, in many ways, inspirational. I can’t prove this, but my hunch is that BLACK KNIGHT didn’t come to life in this manner.

Not sure if that clarifies anything or not…

By: cp

cp — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:56:00 +0000

Not trying to be a smart ass, but what would you say the difference is between this (which I haven’t seen) and Black Knight (which I actually kind of love)? Maybe also Year One, Ishtar, and a lot of Mel Brooks’ genre work? Is it the auteur director? The fact that 2 of the 3 leads (if not McBride as well) are critical darlings?

Bottom line, I couldn’t tell from what you wrote if you thought the movie was good/entertaining/worth seeing. If you get a chance, please elaborate. Thanks.