YEAR ONE

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Opening this week is a comedy from director/writer Harold Ramis, Aptow Productions and Sony Pictures is “Year One”.

This film tells the story of Zed (Jack Black) a not-so-good hunter who is constantly picked on by other hunters, especially Marlak (Matthew Willig). By the same token there is Oh (Michael Cera), a gatherer who isn’t so good at gathering.

But both are in love! Zed has eyes for Maya (June Diane Raphael) and Oh is head over heels for Eema (Juno Temple). Because they are the butt of all jokes in camp, even their loves are distant.

Finally, the clan decides to get rid of Zed and Oh is not far behind. There adventure takes them across different lands meeting biblical and historical people until they end up in Sodom. Here they find that Maya and Eema have been taken as slaves and Zed believes it is his destiny to save them all before the fall of Sodom.

FINAL WORD: Let me say this first the things your not suppose to say and get it out of the way. Here it is - I have never been a Jack Black fan per say and “Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny” sent me over the edge of sanity. To this day I can’t look at the DVD cover without cringing. Then along came a little film called “Tropic Thunder” and there was a ray of hope that Black had some comedy within him that would cause me to laugh, and it really did!

I saw the trailers for “Year One” and that nagging cringe began to reoccur. But, I held back that feeling saying to myself “hey, he was awesome in “Tropic Thunder”, maybe he once again will make me chuckle”. Enter the barf bag – this film reeks! Black is NOT funny. There, I’ve said it.

Cera is mildly entertaining but I’ve seen this character before in “Juno” and “Superbad”.  This character can only be gotten away with so many times before it becomes boring and somewhat annoying.

Oliver Platt as the High Priest just made me want to cry. This talented, talented actor was reduced to gay jokes and innuendo. Seeing Hank Azaria as Abraham just hurt to watch – thank goodness he had “Night at the Museum: The Battle for the Smithsonian” to fall back on.

Other disastrous characters are David Cross as Cain, Bill Haider as the Shaman, Horatio Sanz as Enmebargasi, Olivia Wilde as Princess Inanna, Vinnie Jones as Sargon, Xander Berkely as the King, and Harold Ramis even has a role but he’s hidden under tons of makeup (which is probably best).

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give “Year One” 1½ tubs of popcorn and that is being kind! This was a horrible waste of film, a ridiculous waste of money to make and an even greater waste of talent. I’m sure Black fans will find something redeeming about the film with its bathroom humor, sexual suggestions, and all the rest garbage.

The tagline for this film is meet your ancestors and all I can say is - I don’t think so! Save yourselves and save your money. There are other films in theatres and coming out soon that deserve your dollars - this certainly isn’t one of them.