YEAR ONE (PG-13)
Starring Jack Black, Michael Cera, Oliver Platt, and Bill Hader
Released by Sony Pictures

Year One probably looked hilarious on paper, alas this is one of those comedies where most of the jokes got lost in translation. The entire project is even more disheartening taking into consideration that it was co-written and directed by Ghostbuster Harold Ramis.

Taking a cue from the likes of Mel Brooks and Monty Python, Year One features Jack Black and Michael Cera as Zed and Oh, a couple of dimwitted Neanderathals who, after being banished by their tribe, set out on an epic journey filled with adventure and self discovery.

Most of the humor is of the crude variety which would be fine if any of it were funny. Watching Jack Black take a bite out of a human turd isn't remotely funny. Furthermore, when Year One does finally come across something somewhat humorous it squanders nearly every opportunity at making the audience laugh by beating a dead horse. Take for instance a painfully redundant scene in which Cain (played by David Cross) continuously pummels Abel (Paul Rudd) over the head with a rock. Boring! By the way, did I mention that Year One takes plenty of pot shots at religion? Well it does. Not that I mind really. Again, all of this would be fine and dandy if the movie were funny. In the end, even Roland Emmerich's 10,000 B.C. was funnier than this, and it wasn't even a comedy.

Truth be told, Year One starts out fairly decent. Black and Cera strike up an odd but fitting bond. But then, the movie quickly unravels. Even a roster of super star talent goes to waste. Names like Paul Rudd, Vinnie Jones, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Hank Azaria, Horatio Sanz, Kyle Gass, Bill Hader, and Harold Ramis himself pop up at a feverish pace, but none of them are given an opportunity to shine. Only Oliver Platt manages to truly deliver. As the High Priest, a colorful Platt plays this holy man as a gay version of David Lo Pan from Big Trouble in Little China. Say what you will about Platt. At least he goes for it in sweeping, broad strokes.

Clearly, Ramis set out to make a film in the tradition of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Life of Brian, and History of the World Part I. Unfortunately, this uninspired comedy plays more like Dude Where's My Car. A shame too, because Ramis' last film, the criminally underrated Ice Harvest, looked to show this talented film maker in an entirely new light. Hopefully, the rumored Ghostbusters sequel will return this iconic funny man to his former glory.