Soundtrack Review: Your Highness (2011)
| Reviewer: JØrn Tillnes |
Your Highness Soundtrack Review: This is a review of the film score Your Highness by Steve Jablonsky.
"Jablonsky shows the world that a comedy score doesn't have to be static and goofy."
Your Highness is surely one of those love or hate kind of films. The posters are absolutely dreadful, yet the trailer had it's moments where I actually thought that this could be a lot of fun. This medieval comedy about chivalry, rescuing fair damsels and all that stuff is directed by David Gordon Green who also did Pineapple Express. He has hired Steve Jablonsky as the composer and not much known for his comedy scores, he has been a regular composer on Desperate Housewives.
Track List
| 1. Let Us Quest! | ***** |
| 2. Isabel The Strong | ***** |
| 3. Goodbye My Tinys | ***** |
| 4. Best Man | ***** |
| 6. The Virgin is Plucked | ***** |
| 7. Not in my Castle | ***** |
| 8. Leezar's Date, Belladonna's Hate | **** |
| 9. Playful Secrets! | *** |
| 10. Mean Knights and Horsies O' My! | **** |
| 11. Here Come The Marteetee | *** |
| 12. A Fistful of Snakes | ***** |
| 13. Isabel Thrashes | ***** |
| 14. Muldiss Darton, City of Lore | ***** |
| 15. The Same Betrayal as Before | **** |
| 16. Labyrinths and Humps | *** |
| 17. Kill-Trophy and the Warrior's Birth | ***** |
| 18. The Effening | **** |
| 19. Tis I, Thadeous The Hero | ***** |
| 20. Heroes Unite | ***** |
| 21. Orgy of Violence | ***** |
| 22. 'Til We Meet Again | ***** |
| 23. Way of the Warriors | ***** |
| 24. Thadeous | ***** |
Let's face it, Steve Jablonsky has had huge success with Transformers the last few years, but apart from that, there's not so much to bring to the table. He really needs this to be a strong year to build on further for 2012. With Tansformers: Dark of the Moon and Gears of War 3 coming this year, it is surely a success story in the making.
But what about Your Highness? This overly silly comedy reminds me of the golden days of Ace Ventura and Jim Carrey, but what of the music? What could fit such a movie? Judging by the trailer, there should be plenty of opportunities to shine. I am always worried that the comedy will take over completely like it almost did for Little Fockers. You know the typical comedy mish-mash of silly melodies tied to silly scenes.
Not so for The Highness.
Epic
Steve Jablonsky has taken a wise choice to not think of the movie as silly and weird, but an action comedy of epic proportions. In the first cue 'Let Us Quest' that starts of like a great 80s action score builds up to a wonderful action track with choirs and a great melody. This is what Steve Jablonsky is all about, this is what he does best.
Do you remember the score to Tropic Thunder by Theodore Shapiro? The genius here was that it didn't sound like a typical comedy score, but instead an all out Brian Tyler-esqe action score. Jablonsky doesn't need to resemble anyone because as he has proven time and time again, his action scores can be epic and wonderful.
The epic-ness of this score blew me away. I wasn't expecting this, but having listened to this score a few times now I can only say that this is one of the best comedy scores in years. In fact I am actually on a thin rope when I say it is a comedy score. It's actually an action score to a comedy movie (but will be placed in the category comedy fyi).
As we are all waiting for Transformers: Dark of the Moon, we can clearly hear in tracks like 'Not in My Castle' where the inspiration came from. It sounds scarily similar to his previous two Transfomers scores, but since my love for them are eternal, I would say this is perfect as I await the real thing.
As a fun "dig" at his protege Hans Zimmer over at RCP, he has created a little homage to Jack Sparrow with his theme for Thadeous. In the cue 'Thadeous' the theme is built upon Sparrow's wonderful theme created by Hans Zimmer. It branches off slightly, but it's pretty much the same cue.
Conclusion
I think I have said everything I need to say except: Get this! As far as comedy scores go, this will surely go to the top this year, and possibly a nominee for score of the year or am I too premature? Nevertheless, a fantastic effort by Jablonsky who continues to impress and shows the world that a comedy score doesn't have to be static and goofy.
CUE RATING: 91.3
Listen to the Your Highness soundtrack by Steve Jablonsky below:
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