Year One

Before the invention of the wheel, and apparently before the invention of humour, there was Year One. Writer/director Harold Ramis (Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day) misses the mark with every shot, creating one of the least funny comedy films in recent memory. Juvenile humour mixed with ham acting and a nearly nonsensical story make it seem as if Year One not only stars cavemen but was also written by some of our less evolved ancestors. Jack Black and Michael Cera play prehistoric versions of Jack Black and Michael Cera, displaying an ancient comedy style known historically as "phoning it in." When the less-than-dynamic duo are chased out of their mud hut village for eating forbidden fruit, they stumble through a series of semi-biblical encounters and end up amongst the slaves of Sodom, where they accidentally end up in conflict with the ruling Sodomites. The highlight of the film is by far the appearance of Hank Azaria as Abraham, a man obsessed with removing the foreskins of the men around him, though the brief moments of fun Azaria brings to the screen may just seem good in contrast to the long moments of tedium and irritation brought about by Cera and Black. The DVD is packed with special features, including an alternate ending that's not only far funnier than the actual finale but also fits better with the film's biblical theme. As well, there are a slew of alternate scenes that do nothing to improve the movie, a somewhat funny take-off on the infamous "Leeroy Jenkins W.o.W" viral video, a couple "making of" reels, an odd "Visit Sodom" infomercial and, of course, a commentary track. Unless you are a Cro-Magnon who's been transported through time and are looking for something to watch on that "magic box that make cave painting move," I'd skip Year One and hope that year two is more interesting.