Film: Year One
Cast: Jack Black, Michael Cera, Olivia Wilde, David Cross,
Director: Harold Ramis
Rating: * *
Harold Ramis is famous for heaping ridicule on religious epics from way back (70’s SCTV lampoon of Ben Hur) and this film is just another in a long line following in the same beat. Jack Black and Michael Cera are exiled Neanderthals who set-off on an epic journey through the ancient world. Zed (Black), having eaten the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge, is kicked out of his village. Nerdy gatherer Oh (Cera), accompanies him. Zed crosses over mountains (and several millennia) to arrive in time to witness Cain (David Cross) slay Abel (Paul Rudd) not once but several times, each new assault more "accidental" than the last.
The narrative is not laden with laughs but it does manage to bring on a smile time and again. The commentary is quite ironic as it showcases irreverence to religious superstition and handed-down knowledge. Screenwriter Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg (‘The Office’ fame) follow the same basic structure that their hit series had. Their gags run-on intermittently, in an understated fashion. Both Black and Cera make a great buddy pairing that keeps the interest afloat despite the film’s overall irreverent and unappealing play.
