Movie Review #12 Year One

Year One (2009) Jack Black, Michael Cera Directed by Harold Ramis

Ramis (Most famously known for playing Egon in Ghostbusters) who brought us comic genius in Caddyshack and Groundhog Day, two of the funniest movies ever, decides to go back in time for Year One. This is a story of two guys who get kicked out of their village...for being idiots, and go out and explore the world. The cast is top notch, and the biblical humor is also sarcastic enough to not be offensive (to religious people). Ramis has a knack for bringing great comic talent together and Year One is no exception. Oliver Platt (as a gay priest is funny), David Cross (as Cain steals the show), Hank Azaria (as Abraham is spot on), and the beautiful and up and coming Olivia Wilde is gorgeous and kinda funny as Princess Inanna. Year One is not the funniest movie I have seen this year, and it is a notch below films like Role Models, I Love You Man (reviewed), and The Hangover (reviewed). But as the back end of doubleheader after an intense action film like Transformers it does just fine. Black (who is becoming more watchable lately see: Be Kind Rewind and Cera who is always great see:Nick and Norah,Superbad, and Juno make a nice comic duo. the script is funny and smart, but it won't make you spit up your soda or get you to that high pitch annoying laugh. It pokes at the bible which is funny, and seeing Ramis on screen again is cool. I hope if you get bored and have some time you will go out and buy a ticket to Year One...for us fans waiting for Ghostbusters 3, this film serves as a gateway, because Gene Stupnitsky and Ramis are both attached to Ghosterbusters 3. (actually Jack Black is rumored to also be attached) I am going to give it a reasonable 6.5 memorable Morgan Freeman lines (same as Wolverine) because this is the kind of smart comedy that would entice Andy Dufrane because he could obviously get all the jokes, and make fun of those who don't get it.

Food for thought: I had nothing to eat for this viewing, but went home and cooked up a nice petite sirloin, sliced thin, and marinated with terrayki flavor...served over rice. Needed something nice and healthy to clear out some Jack and Cokes I may have had during the wait for the film:) Up next for Ramis, he is working on a Meatballs remake and of course GHOSTBUSTERS 3. Black has Gullivers Travels and Brutal Legend coming up, and again I urge you to see a sweet funny film called Be Kind Rewind. Cera has two cool movies coming up with Youth In Revolt and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, also keep an eye out for the Arrested Development movie which eyes 2010 as a release year. Oh and for my own selfish reasons and cause she is so hot I looked into Olivia Wilde's next projects Tron 2.0 (bummer) and In Northwood about a mentally ill man who commits murder. Oh and let me just add on, that the preview for a cute looking called Paper Heart, that you might miss because it will only open in selected cities with Cera also looks real good...youtube it!