I was very excited to see a man I am very familiar with as he appears regularly in local pantomime (The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury), Phil Holden, although only in the first scene, it left me feeling very happy seeing a face of someone I actually know in this American comedy. When Prince Fabious first enters I was a tad worried about his accent but I quickly forgot he was not actually English and relaxed into the film. The story begins with Prince Fabious returning home from a quest with a young woman he has rescued, Belladonna. Zooey Deschanel's Belladonna was only a secondary character (although her character is referenced often, she is given little to do other than kiss Prince Fabious) which is probably a good thing as she was the only character I found difficult to believe. Her performance left me feeling empty as she was playing Belladonna as the same character I have seen her play before and in this situation it left me wanting something else. I felt for Prince Thadeous (Danny McBride) as I think any younger sibling can relate to the feeling of walking in your brother's shadow (although Prince Fabious' shadow is rather a lot larger than any real sibling!). At Fabious' wedding to Belladonna, an evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux) who has been plaguing the kingdom interrupts the festivities to steal back the maiden he has been keeping for his own evil plan. Fabious, decides he shall set out on a quest to find his bride along with his loyal Knights, his father the King announces Thadeous must help his brother succeed or face banishment.
As the party set off, they first stop at a Wize Wizard to ask for advice, it is revealed that Fabious visits him before every quest and was possibly abused by this perverted old creature as a child. the Wizard gives them a compass that will lead them to where they can find the weapon that will kill the near immortal Leezar. They set off again but Fabious' loyal Knights are shown to be working for the evil Leezar and they flee. They soon meet Isabel, a warrior on a quest of her own. She steals the compass as she is part of a tribe determined to stop Leezar going through with his ritual, that will leave him in control of a dragon. Fabious and Thadious continue on their journey without the compass but meet Isabel again in a small town, they soon learn their quests are the same and join forces after Fabious is captured by Leezar's men.
Together, Isabel and Thadious (and his loyal companion Courtney) find the maze containing the Blade of the Unicorn that can kill Leezar. Thadious finds the blade and slays the minotaur inside. Thadious and Isabel find Leezar's lair and rescue Fabious. Thadious gives his brother the blade so that the can save his bride and the fight to stop Leezar begins.
Although this film has its moments of humorous vulgarity, it contains some genuinely clever moments and the relationship between Thadious, his companion Courtney and Fabious is well written and heartwarming at moments. The film could very well have ended up as Pineapple Express medieval style (not that this would have necessarily been a bad thing!), but I can happily say that this was not the case. Definitely a film to see with friends on a fun night out.
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