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Movie review: Land of the Lost, 5 out of 10
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Land of the Lost movie poster
Land of the Lost gets a nice round 5 out of 10. As usual, this review will be as spoiler-free as possible; though for a comedy like this there is not much that could be given away. This review will not include comparisons to the original television series. Let’s look at the Good, the Bad, and the Bottom Line.
The Good
Many people will go into this movie with low expectations. Some of Will Ferrell’s latest films have not been huge successes and many feel he is losing his appeal. Add to that a remake of a 1970s television show that was purposefully cheesy and campy drawing in a younger audience, and you have yourself a formula for a mediocre film. Going in with that in mind, this film is surprisingly entertaining. It has its moments with some very funny scenes. Ferrell did do a great job delivering his lines and his physical acting was spot on as usual. Anna Friel is a delight. She’s not going to win an Oscar with this performance, but she is a beautiful and talented actress that adds a nice element to the film.
The special effects were done well within the confines of the film. In other words, they were consistent with the look and feel the filmmakers were going for. Don’t expect incredibly realistic effects, as the film seemed to be going for a similar look to the original show. Since the characters are in an alternate world, the entire film was meant to look “different” than our Earth. Visually the movie was very consistent and was a constant reminder of how strange a world the characters found themselves in.
The pace of the film was consistent as well. There were times it seemed to slow a bit, but just as it started to feel that way a well-timed joke or a cut to a new scene got the film back on track.
The Bad
Land of the Lost seemed to misplace its plot. The basic premise of the movie is a whacky paleontologist and two others are transported to another universe. That’s the basic premise and about as deep as the plot goes. The film does have the standard “save the universe” storyline, but one that was very shallow and downright boring. Due to the fact that the plot was so superficial, the film seemed to be a jumbled mess of random scenes. We are taken from one scene about a weird creature or feature, right to another with no connection other than the characters walked there. Believe it or not, the scenes that did drive the plot were so few and poorly done that they seemed out of place!
Danny McBride was given a pretty poorly written character in this film and it’s a shame for this to mar his current run of hits. He had a few funny moments, but it was obvious his character was written purely as a vehicle to support and set up Ferrell’s character. Don’t expect to see the McBride from Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express. He performed well with what he was given, but there’s only so much a talented actor can do with a weakly written role.
The Bottom Line
Wait for the rental on this one. Will Ferrell does deliver a solid comedic performance as usual, but the overall film is not worth $8-10 or more a person by a long shot. There are laughs to be had, and if you go in with low expectations you may be surprised. It’ll make for a nice family movie night in a few months, but with a spring and summer packed full of hits, don’t waste your movie budget on this one.
Other Examiners' take on Land of the Lost: Las Vegas Film Examiner, Denver Film Community Examiner
Check out some other reviews:X-men Origins: Wolverine, Angels & Demons, Terminator Salvation, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Star Trek.
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