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'Year One': A biblical blah
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Maybe it’s the NYC weather or maybe it’s the PG-13 rating that makes ‘Year One’ a bit less than enthusiastically funny. Director Harold Ramis who is a seasoned comedy writer and director (‘Caddyshack’, ‘Animal House’ and ‘Groundhog Day’) definitely tries to make the film a hilarious adventure but never quite makes it past a forgettable epic.
‘Year One’ has a very straightforward story line; a couple of lazy hunters – who are also best friends – are shunned from their village and soon embark on an epic trip though the ancient times. Zed (Jack Black) who is just tired of hunting and gathering – after eating the forbidden fruit – realizes that there might be more to life than living in a primitive village. Oh (Michael Cera) follows him basically reacting to the obvious choice his life suddenly gives him. From then on the pair runs into different characters of the times: Cain and Abel, Abraham and Isaac and the city of Sodom – in hopes of leaving some room for a sequel and continue through the chapters of history. In fact, if ‘Year One’ was a side-splitting masterpiece than a sequel would be mostly welcome – but sadly it never quite reaches the high standards behind it.
The film comes across as bad copy of a Mel Brook’s comedy – perhaps the original idea for Ramis and company too – but never quite reaches the punch line. The jokes are not imaginative enough and seem obsolete – as if they have all been done before. Jack Black definitely shines throughout – clearly ‘Year One’ is his vehicle but even his charismatic persona cannot save the scenes or the circumstances that after a while become tiresome and overdone.
Not even Judd Apatow’s involvement is enough of an endorsement for the film. Some great jokes and one-liners are there but never delivered with the obnoxious or envelope- pushing enthusiasm that they deserve, the supporting talent is certainly there – Hank Azaria and Oliver Platt’s characters are hilarious but are not given enough range to fully develop. The writing definitely falls flat in ‘Year One’ – and in order to appear to a younger audience – the PG-13 stamp is there for mildly suggestive language that will certainly have them laughing but because of all the wrong reasons.
It almost seems like Ramis, Apatow and company have forgotten that R rated comedies have a place in the market. The recent success of ‘The Hangover’ at the box office is a clear example but if that is not enough how about looking back a bit; ‘Superbad’ and ‘The 40-Year Old Virgin’ – both Apatow’s projects and rated R – were a huge success too. The only thing wrong with ‘Year One’ is the lack of great writing and that hideous MPAA rating – so instead of running to watch this film rent other great Apatow and Ramis’ comedies; that at the end might be money well spent.
For more info: Tickets and Showtime at Fandango
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