Your Highness

It’s a shame that boys will be boys, because it’s the relentless stream of smutty schoolboy jokes that threaten to spoil what’s actually a surprisingly sweet ‘bromance’. Set in a fairy tale land where unicorns and minotaurs are humdrum, Your Highness is a tale of derring-do in the tradition of Sinbad the Sailor, complete with thrilling escapades, high jinks and some pretty exciting action sequences.

Director David Gordon Green has repeated the formula for success he used in 2008's stoner comedy Pineapple Express – namely, a knowing air, smart mouths and the aforementioned smutty jokes, along with two loveable idiots in the lead roles. He reunites Pineapple Express’ James Franco and Danny McBride, who are clearly having a high old time as royal brothers who need to overcome their sibling rivalry (and a horny dragon-wizard) to save a maiden.

Franco is adorable as big brother Fabious, bounding around like an over-excited puppy and succumbing happily to a little molestation from a Yoda-like creature who’s clearly gone over to the dark side, while McBride is enjoyably whiney as the petulant younger brother, Thadeous, who’s sick of being overshadowed by Fabious’ fabness.

Your Highness isn't just a boys’ club: the girls get to have a good time too. Natalie Portman is on great form as warrior and fellow quester Isabel, showing her fun side, kicking ass and giving the boys as good as she gets. Zooey Deschanel, as Fabious’ beloved Belladonna, is slightly underused, being required to do little more than murder the English accent and avoid being deflowered by the evil wizard, but she still manages to enjoy herself. All in all it’s great fun. Just lose the penis jokes boys, we love you anyway.