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Natalie Portman, Danny McBride, James Franco and Zooey Deschanel stare at something unpleasant and discomforting. They're probably watching this movie.

Grade: C+

An action-packed movie following the ridiculous journey of a prince, his brother, and their assistant, Your Highness delivers comedy, suspense, and even a little bit of magic. But the incorporation of magic, violence, and modern slang in a medieval setting not only makes this movie out of place and overdone, it leaves the audience rolling their eyes at the most ordinary jokes while constantly checking their phones to see when they can leave.

When young Prince Fabious, played by James Franco, embarks on yet another valiant excursion, things do not go over too well after slaying an evil wizard’s cyclops and rescuing his trapped maiden. Upon Fabious’ return, the angry wizard, Leezar, uses some magic and his three mothers– yes, three– to capture Fabious’ bride-to-be; and all the while, Fabious’s good-for-nothing brother, Thadeous, played by Danny McBride, savors weed, hard-liquor, and easy maidens. Determined to win back what rightfully belongs to him, Fabious must traverse Leezar’s kingdom before the almighty eclipse that will begin Leezar’s sexual encounter with Fabious’s bride in order to produce an unstoppable and all-powerful dragon. Not only does this plot resemble a story told by someone under the influence of very powerful drugs, its absurdity literally makes the audience dumber.

What strikes as most bizarre is not the nonsensical plot, but the talented cast that undertook such disgraceful roles for this movie. Academy Award Winner Natalie Portman, still hot from her killer performance in Black Swan, encounters the trio along their journey to Leezar’s kingdom. Hungering for personal vengeance, she carries the slack of the group through her ability to maneuver around obstacles along their path.  Although many would praise her for this symbolic role emphasizing the potential of women, she ultimately emphasizes that being on par with men can only be achieved through possessing masculine characteristics. Supporting this sexist exposé, the men crack joke after joke of the inferior role of women within society and their inability to be anything beyond a wife or a one-night stand. The only powerful women throughout this movie are the ones that possess some sort of magic, also reinforcing the idea that women cannot achieve greatness on their own. Not only does Portman slightly lose credibility as an actress from the more shoddy roles she takes on, but her offensive character here mocks her honorable persona.

Although Portman is short of another Academy Award with this film, McBride and Franco remarkably succeed as their characters, despite their distasteful roles. Franco prospers as a power hungry, self-involved egomaniac embodying the image of the typical brave prince on a horse that comes to save the day. Through Franco’s devotion to his character, he adds a serious edge to this generally juvenile film, saving it from being a complete train wreck. Elevating its likability as well, McBride’s devotion to the image of an idle loser, only provoked by the desire for women and drugs, adds a more relatable and humorous character that entices compassion from the audience. At least two of the main characters understood the need to commit to their role.

Receiving the grade of C+, this movie will not allow for a great evening with friends and family. It will, however, fall under the category of movies that one will angrily complain about or insipidly recount to their friends and then eventually forget about. For the sake of your intelligence, please do not go see this.