In between metal robots kicking the metal arse’s off each other and trying to kill Batman, in pops a biblical comedy. Written and directed by Egon from Ghostbusters (Yes, the geeky guy, probably better known as Harold Ramis) and starring Jack Black and Michael Cera. Year one, like its title says, goes back to the the very first year.
Black and Cera play hunter gatherers who for the best part aren't exactly at the top of their game. Zed (played by Black) decides he’s had enough of being a loser and chows down on some forbidden fruit in a quest to be a somebody. Probably the greatest hunter gatherer ever…or something. From there he’s banished from the tribe, but announces he’s leaving anyway and who wants to come with him. Predictably, Oh (Cera) thunders off with him. They eventually clamber out of the woods and encounter civilisation, namely Kane and Abel. From there, cue up plenty of biblical characters and a rescue mission, which see’s the boys attempt to save their old tribal friends and the women they want to “lay” with.
I’ve read a few reviews that have slammed this into the ground, but to be fair it wasn't as bad as I expected. There are a few genuinely laugh out loud moments here, which normally involve excretions and bodily fluids. While the other comedic moments are ok it never seems to know whether its a gross out comedy, a sexy comedy or a kids comedy. The amalgamation of all 3 genres don't really work.
The sets look quite well, but I think the movie doesn't exactly know what year it is in. I mean where in the name of *enter expletive* did a woman find eyeliner in year one? That aside, the performances are ok. Black is his ever energetic, no shame self. He doesn't really leap out off the screen at you, its just Jack being Jack….in a goat skin loin cloth. Michael Cera looks completely and utterly out of place in Year One. At times he talks like he’s just got off a spaceship from the future and doesn’t gel well with his onscreen counterpart. As for Vinne Jones. Well, he does the worst Gladiator impression in the history of Gladiator impressions. Russell Crowe he certainly is not. Thankfully he doesn’t have a great deal of screen time.
Pace wise Year one trundles along quite nicely. Its not a bad comedy in any sense of the word, but In the same breath, its not something of outstanding magnitude either. Given the material and the obvious comparisons to Life of Brian, it holds its own on occasion…just about. It’ll give you a few laughs, with some of them extremely funny, but that's about it. No more, no less. A welcome big screen return for Harold Ramis, but not the exact return to form everyone was hoping for!
Black and Cera play hunter gatherers who for the best part aren't exactly at the top of their game. Zed (played by Black) decides he’s had enough of being a loser and chows down on some forbidden fruit in a quest to be a somebody. Probably the greatest hunter gatherer ever…or something. From there he’s banished from the tribe, but announces he’s leaving anyway and who wants to come with him. Predictably, Oh (Cera) thunders off with him. They eventually clamber out of the woods and encounter civilisation, namely Kane and Abel. From there, cue up plenty of biblical characters and a rescue mission, which see’s the boys attempt to save their old tribal friends and the women they want to “lay” with.
I’ve read a few reviews that have slammed this into the ground, but to be fair it wasn't as bad as I expected. There are a few genuinely laugh out loud moments here, which normally involve excretions and bodily fluids. While the other comedic moments are ok it never seems to know whether its a gross out comedy, a sexy comedy or a kids comedy. The amalgamation of all 3 genres don't really work.
The sets look quite well, but I think the movie doesn't exactly know what year it is in. I mean where in the name of *enter expletive* did a woman find eyeliner in year one? That aside, the performances are ok. Black is his ever energetic, no shame self. He doesn't really leap out off the screen at you, its just Jack being Jack….in a goat skin loin cloth. Michael Cera looks completely and utterly out of place in Year One. At times he talks like he’s just got off a spaceship from the future and doesn’t gel well with his onscreen counterpart. As for Vinne Jones. Well, he does the worst Gladiator impression in the history of Gladiator impressions. Russell Crowe he certainly is not. Thankfully he doesn’t have a great deal of screen time.
Pace wise Year one trundles along quite nicely. Its not a bad comedy in any sense of the word, but In the same breath, its not something of outstanding magnitude either. Given the material and the obvious comparisons to Life of Brian, it holds its own on occasion…just about. It’ll give you a few laughs, with some of them extremely funny, but that's about it. No more, no less. A welcome big screen return for Harold Ramis, but not the exact return to form everyone was hoping for!
