So I don't consider this a classic, as some other reviewers have labeled it. You really have to stretch the imagination to accept the premise that the first 30 people or so in line for the crown are suddenly killed and England, one of the largest and most powerful economies of the world, has to ask some D list lounge singer to be their new king. But I get it; this is a just-for-laughs fish out of water story, not a serious what-if film.John Goodman, whose career was built on playing the middle-aged working class every man, does a decent job here portraying a beer drinking, football loving regular Joe who just can't stop creating uncomfortable moments around stuffy British people.The gags are a bit of a mixed bag. When they develop in a way that's organic to the character and moment, they work pretty well. But for every good setup there is the overly forced one, such as when Goodman's character accidentally launches a greasy bird off his plate at a state dinner while trying to cut into it. The ensuing chaos sees every glass along a long, long table fall over like dominoes for nearly 30 seconds. The scene feels so desperate to hit the laugh; you can practically see the little charges going off to keep the glasses falling in comedic fashion past the horrified diners. The problem is, comedy is really hard. Even a whiff of desperation for laughs like that scene has turns funny into sad really quick.The other part of this movie that's hard to swallow is the romance subplot. Hollywood knows that one of their major target demographics, middle aged guys, will identify with Goodman and so they supply the dream girl for the viewers alter-ego. In this case the movie asks us to believe that an insanely gorgeous 26 year old is just dying to fall in love with her dream guy: an obese man nearly old enough to be her father. When the leading man is Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt, yah OK I can believe that. But Goodman? I don't know, I just think an actress more age appropriate would have been easier to believe. The two here just don't seem like they go together.My enjoyment of the film may have been effected by the fact that I don't care much for the concept of a monarchy, and I find arguments that keeping families in an artificial state of wealth and privilege is a good thing because they "serve the people" facile and ignorant. Note that the fantasy is always that you get to suddenly become royalty, never that you get to suddenly be a subject who gets sent to prison for not bowing properly or mouthing off. Monarchies are an outdated and brutish form of government best left in the history books, imho.All in all, I managed to watch the whole movie, even if I wasn't enthralled the whole way thru. Passable entertainment.

I'm not even going to attempt to be unbiased about King Ralph. I first saw the movie at a young age and watched it many times growing up. The movie isn't high art or genre defining. It is a simple story about a lovable slacker who discovers he is much more and embarks on a fish-out- of-water journey. And as that King Ralph is a decent movie.When a freak accident wipes out the entire British Royal Family, American lounge singer Ralph Jones is uncovered as the next heir to the throne. Despite being your atypical slacker, he shows a certain charm and his unconventional methods (along with much help from his private secretary and assistant) begin to win people over. He even begins to secretly see Miranda, a former stripper that he meets soon after arriving in England. But soon the corrupt Lord Graves begins a plot to disgrace Ralph and position himself as next in line for the throne. Miranda is pulled into the plot but falls for Ralph and backs out. Graves already has what he needs and disgraces Ralph at a royal ball. After Miranda admits her part in the plot, Ralph is able to trace it back to Graves and repair some of the damage done. He admits to Parliament and the people that he is not fit to be king and abdicates the throne to his secretary, who was secretly part of the royal line as well. Soon Ralph makes up with Miranda and the movie ends with them married as Ralph becomes a Duke and gets to live his dream of being a musician.The cast is solid all around. John Goodman is impossible to hate as the big buffoon struggling to adapt to an entirely new world. Camille Coduri is likable despite her character's part in the plot against Ralph and has good chemistry with Goodman. Peter O'Toole and Richard Griffiths provide solid backup as his secretary and assistant, respectively, and John Hurt appears to have a blast in his small role as the evil Lord Graves.As mentioned earlier, the story is a basic fish-out-of-water tale. Many of the jokes are derived from Ralph's class difference and ignorance of English culture. It is all very basic but is carried by the charm of Goodman. While my score of 8 is biased by years of popping in that old VHS tape, I recommend at least giving it a try. It is definitely worth a viewing.

I am honestly surprised to see this movie has a five out of ten rating on IMDb. I know that it was far from a hit movie but for what it is I thought it was fantastic! I have always been a fan of John Goodman (who I remember mostly from the TV show Roseanne) and in this movie he plays a Las Vegas lounge singer who ends up through a fluke accident having to become the next King of England, "King Ralph".He obviously has trouble fitting in and is very frustrated and breaks all the rules, with the people around him trying to get him to fit in and others trying to bring him down so a new line can take over the throne of England.It's not a great or brilliant movie but it's not supposed to be, it's a fun comedy with some really funny jokes and a fantastic cast. John Goodman is great and the guys working in the palace are also excellent with some really big name actors in this.

King Ralph is directed by David S. Ward who loosely adapts the screenplay from the novel Headlong written by Emlyn Williams. It stars John Goodman, Peter O'Toole, John Hurt, Camille Coduri, Richard Griffiths and Leslie Phillips. Music is by James Newton Howard and cinematography by Kenneth MacMillan.When the entire ruling family of the United Kingdom is killed by a freak accident, the search begins for any surviving heirs to the throne. One is found in Las Vegas, Ralph Jones, an easy going slob like lounge singer. Getting Ralph to take his role seriously is one thing, learning him the graces of the monarchy is another! Standard fish-out-of-water (bull-in-a-china-shop) premise that's boosted by the ebullient John Godman as the hapless title character. The makers try hard to garner laughs from a roll call of by the numbers scenarios, enter Ralph being introduced to cricket, cuisine, tea drinking, walking with a straight back and talking eloquently. Things are further muddied when Ralph meets and forms a relationship with a failed stripper with a heart (Coduri). A big no no for the King of England, who must marry into royal stock. Around Goodman is a ream of quality thespians from Britain and Ireland, all adding some dignity to the weak script whilst simultaneously looking for all they are worth that they are coasting for the money.It's hardly a stinker of a movie, it does have charming moments, but all involved deserved better and even back on release the formula was looking frayed around the edges. 5/10