Will Ferrell is back to his old tricks again in his new film Land of the Lost. Based on the old mid-'70s TV show of the same name, this is a newly updated version sporting a smorgasbord of high-tech special effects and that true deadpan humor that you’ve either come to love (or hate) from Ferrell.
The film starts out with Ferrell’s character, Dr. Rick Marshall, appearing on The Today Show with Matt Lauer. Lauer thinks Marshall is a fraud. He’s studying time warps, for crying out loud. Not only that, but he’s studying them with taxpayer money. Marshall storms off the set when Lauer brings up some scientists who don’t necessarily agree with him.
After throwing the on-air tantrum, Marshall finds himself laughed out of the scientific community. Now he’s giving informational classes at the La Brea Tar Pits to young kids. Instead of teaching anything worthwhile, he continues to give lessons on time warps. Bobb’e J. Johnson, the foul-mouthed kid from Role Models, makes a cameo appearance here. His two lines are among the funniest of the film. He’s got the comedic timing of a seasoned professional. It’s a shame he isn’t in this film more. But, he shines with what he’s given.
Enter the cute, perky Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies), who plays an inquisitive Cambridge student named Holly Cantrell who's obsessed with Marshall’s work. Anna Friel at times acts her heart out in this film. She has some real heartbreaking scenes, but most of them are cut short by lame jokes. She has a beautiful accent, and really lights up the screen every time she’s on it, much like Amy Adams did for the insufferable Night at the Museum 2.
Danny McBride (Tropic Thunder) joins the fray when Holly and Marshall travel out into the desert in search of a hot spot for tachyons. These molecules, if harnessed correctly with the right machinery, should allow one to travel sideways through time and space to alternate dimensions. The hot spot happens to be a carnival-type river ride owned by McBride's character, redneck Will Stanton.
Article comments
1 - Christine Lakatos
Oh my gosh, I remember this TV show when I was growing up! My 12-year-old daughter went to see this film last night with her friends. I will have to see what she says about it. Thanks for the review, Aaron, may have saved me a trip to the theater.