starring Jack Black, Michael Cera, Oliver Platt, David Cross, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Vinnie Jones, Hank Azaria, Juno Temple, Olivia Wilde
directed by Harold Ramis
So when was the last time you saw a good Harold Ramis movie? The kind of comedy that had your sides bursting, had you gasping happily for air, and had you laughing so hard you thought you did a million stomach crunches? If you answer is “Well, it’s been a while” you are correct. I don’t think Mr. Ramis has hit the mark on a movie he’s directed since Bedazzled in 2000. Its sad, really. He used to be a really funny guy.
Year One is set in… well, the year one. It follows the exploits of Zed played by Jack Black and Oh played by Michael Cera. Both are misfits in their tribe and are constantly mocked and scorned for one thing or another. Zed eventually finds the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and takes a “knowedgie” bite despite protest from the timid Oh. They get kicked out of their tribal village and go about their journey through a hodge podge of Torah/Old Testament based situations.
Don’t look for much of a plot, because there isn’t one. Its more or less an excuse for Jack Black to play a role he’s played more times than I can count; the lovable loser who is too stupid to fail and gets the girl. Michael Cera’s part is much the same as what he always plays. Quiet, talks under his breath boy that somehow makes it out on top. Now I’m not discounting the quotability of the movie; there are some really, really great lines. You’ve seen the preview; the princess wants Zed to enter the holy of holys, and Zed replys, “I want you to sit on the poley of poleys.” There is a ton of stuff to make you giggle, but not enough to keep your mind from going numb with how shallow the plot is.
Most of it is pulled straight from the Old Testament. The guys meet Cain and Abel. They meet Abraham and stop him from sacrificing his son Isaac. They journey to the cities of Sodom and Gamorrah. Even half the puns allude to some Bible story or another. In fact, if this movie has any value, its in the criticism of the Jewish and early Chrisitan faiths. Instead of trying to find the funny, dig a little deeper and you might find an old, disgruntled Harold Ramis making sport out of his faith. I won’t delve too deeply, but the spiritual commentary is clearly apparent, especially when Zed does finally get into the room called the Holy of Holys. There’s nothing there. I think that speaks volumes more than what little story Ramis was trying to use to keep this film glued together.
Truly, one of the more missable films of the summer, but not a complete waste of time. All the funny bits were, in fact, in the trailer. So don’t go expecting anything more than what they gave you in two and a half minutes of preview. Its, you know, just okay. Ramis, dig deep and find that part of you that wrote Ghostbusters, then go out and make your next movie.
Won’t be buying in on the Blu. Go to the theater during early bird hours; its worth the price of a ticket at that point.
Year One; I’ve Had Better.
Year One
starring Jack Black, Michael Cera, Oliver Platt, David Cross, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Vinnie Jones, Hank Azaria, Juno Temple, Olivia Wilde
directed by Harold Ramis
So when was the last time you saw a good Harold Ramis movie? The kind of comedy that had your sides bursting, had you gasping happily for air, and had you laughing so hard you thought you did a million stomach crunches? If you answer is “Well, it’s been a while” you are correct. I don’t think Mr. Ramis has hit the mark on a movie he’s directed since Bedazzled in 2000. Its sad, really. He used to be a really funny guy.
Year One is set in… well, the year one. It follows the exploits of Zed played by Jack Black and Oh played by Michael Cera. Both are misfits in their tribe and are constantly mocked and scorned for one thing or another. Zed eventually finds the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and takes a “knowedgie” bite despite protest from the timid Oh. They get kicked out of their tribal village and go about their journey through a hodge podge of Torah/Old Testament based situations.
Don’t look for much of a plot, because there isn’t one. Its more or less an excuse for Jack Black to play a role he’s played more times than I can count; the lovable loser who is too stupid to fail and gets the girl. Michael Cera’s part is much the same as what he always plays. Quiet, talks under his breath boy that somehow makes it out on top. Now I’m not discounting the quotability of the movie; there are some really, really great lines. You’ve seen the preview; the princess wants Zed to enter the holy of holys, and Zed replys, “I want you to sit on the poley of poleys.” There is a ton of stuff to make you giggle, but not enough to keep your mind from going numb with how shallow the plot is.
Most of it is pulled straight from the Old Testament. The guys meet Cain and Abel. They meet Abraham and stop him from sacrificing his son Isaac. They journey to the cities of Sodom and Gamorrah. Even half the puns allude to some Bible story or another. In fact, if this movie has any value, its in the criticism of the Jewish and early Chrisitan faiths. Instead of trying to find the funny, dig a little deeper and you might find an old, disgruntled Harold Ramis making sport out of his faith. I won’t delve too deeply, but the spiritual commentary is clearly apparent, especially when Zed does finally get into the room called the Holy of Holys. There’s nothing there. I think that speaks volumes more than what little story Ramis was trying to use to keep this film glued together.
Truly, one of the more missable films of the summer, but not a complete waste of time. All the funny bits were, in fact, in the trailer. So don’t go expecting anything more than what they gave you in two and a half minutes of preview. Its, you know, just okay. Ramis, dig deep and find that part of you that wrote Ghostbusters, then go out and make your next movie.
Won’t be buying in on the Blu. Go to the theater during early bird hours; its worth the price of a ticket at that point.