Natalie Portman: 5 Awesome Performances and 5 That Sucked

3. Your Highness (2011)

Just because she shows her bum, doesn€™t mean it€™s a good performance! David Gordon Green€™s early, low-key indie dramas All the Real Girls and Snow Angels were critically relatively well received and he was starting to show all the makings of a promising director, which is why his about turn into the world of comedy was all the more surprising. After the tepid critical reception yet moderate box office haul of Green€™s Pineapple Express he decided to stay in the world of comedy and made critical and commercial bomb, 2011€™s fantasy comedy, Your Highness starring Danny McBride, James Franco and Natalie Portman. Unlike some of her great performances, whether Your Highness stands or falls isn€™t down to Natalie Portman, its not like she is particularly bad in it. What is bad however is that when making a film with the talents of Natalie Portman at your disposal, to create a film where is doesn€™t even matter if she€™s in it or not is a crime in itself. With comedy films like this it€™s not important what happens (who can remember the plot of Princess Bride?), what€™s important it that they€™re funny, which Your Highness isn€™t €“ at least relatively considering the talent involved. Co-writer and star Danny McBride gives himself all the best lines though he€™s essentially doing his Kenny Powers shtick in medieval getup leaving Portman and co. to aimlessly follow him though the wilderness €“ a good film doth this not make, or something.
Contributor
Contributor

David is a film critic, writer and blogger for WhatCulture and a few other sites including his own, www.yakfilm.com Follow him on twitter @yakfilm