Today’s quick review: Year One. After eating the forbidden fruit, Zed (Jack Black) is kicked out of his primitive tribe with his friend Oh (Michael Cera). The two cavemen wander into an unfamiliar world and meet its strange inhabitants, including Cain (David Cross), Abraham (Hank Azaria), and Sargon (Vinnie Jones). But when their former tribemates are enslaved, Zed and Oh must journey to the hedonistic city of Sodom to save them.
Year One is a comedy set in a pastiche of the ancient world. Zed and Oh blunder from one quasi-Biblical situation to another, encountering a number of familiar names and places along the way. Year One’s loose premise and talented leads give the film some legs, setting it up to be a clever, irreverent spoof of mankind’s early days. However, its rambling story, aggressively lowbrow humor, and unlikable characters keep it from realizing its potential.
Year One’s cast is its best feature. Jack Black and Michael Cera play off each other well. Both comedians adopt their usual roles: Zed is a liar and a womanizer with an inflated opinion of himself, while Oh is a shy, intelligent young man with poor social skills. David Cross joins them as their on again, off again companion, the unstable murderer Cain. The three are a natural fit together, and their interactions give the film its best comedy.
However, the movie’s execution leaves something to be desired. The jokes are split between cracks about sex and shots at the Old Testament, but Year One doesn’t have anything clever to say about either. The tone is crass throughout. On the story and character side, Year One is insubstantial. The film’s meandering plot and unserious setting are fine for comedy purposes, but they don’t give it much to fall back on when its comedy misses the mark.
Year One might be worth a shot for fans of Jack Black’s loose comedic style, but other viewers will want to steer clear. Year One has modest comedic value, but its many missteps leave it badly outclassed by other comedies. For a comedy with a similar setting and a soccer bent, try Early Man. For an ancient action adventure, try 10,000 B.C. For a Jack Black comedy with more heart, try Nacho Libre or Be Kind Rewind.
4.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for a good cast working with crude material that misses the mark.