The movie follows the same tale as last year's 10,000 BC (while neither one is original). At the center of the story is Zed (Jack Black), low man on the totem pole who is neither a good hunter nor a good gatherer. He is best friends with Oh (Michael Cera), a timid gatherer who dreams of being with Eema (Juno Temple), the one blond-haired girl in the tribe, but she doesn't know he exists.
The duo's adventure gets off to a start when Zed breaks the tribe's one rule: Do not eat the fruit from the tree of tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Zed gets caught and is kicked out of the village. Feeling somewhat sorry for his friend, Oh joins him and together they head off into the wilderness, heading for the edge of the world.
Once they arrive at the edge, they see the rest of the world open up before them. This is where the story begins to take off. Our heroes learn that in their absence, the village was invaded and all of their friends, enemies, and want-to-be-loved ones have been enslaved. Zed and Oh must now track them down and rescue them from their fate — much like the story of Steven Strait's D'Leh in 10,000 BC.
Considering the sort of movie this is, I am sure you have a good idea of how this going to end. Comedies cannot end on a downer, that would defeat the purpose of the comedy, so one way or another the heroes will come out on top. Before getting too far into the film, you will likely also be able to guess how the story will play out. In a comedy such as this, the plot and and its results are not the reason for its being; it is the comedy that is a means to an end.
Does the comedy succeed? That depends on a couple of factors: your previously mentioned threshold for Jack Black comedy, and the actual jokes. Year One is chock-full of dirty jokes, many of them actually funny. Considering I like Black and Cera, and dirty jokes are almost always funny, I have to admit to liking this movie, although I can also see how this will not be everyone's cup of tea and can be recognized by most sane people as not being a good movie. I don't care. It won me over.
Jack Black is Jack Black, wild-eyed and crazy, a caveman hopped up on the pre-historic equivalent of Red Bull, spouting quips on this journey through ancient history. Playing his straight man is Michael Cera, whose deadpan delivery hides a quiet charisma. He has come a long way since Arrested Development. I enjoy watching him play the logical one as they try to save the day, and themselves.
Article comments
1 - charmer1
Saw the movie myself.I think you still gave it too much credit.Ramis was trying to make a Mel Brooks movie.Think History of the World: Part 1.Ramis tried too hard on this one.
2 - DW
Ah interesting, I was going to reject this film out of hand but you might've changed my mind.