filmland / By Andrew Goff

Clan of Cave Dorks

Jack Black, Michael Cera unable to lift unfunny Year One

(June 25, 2009) Previews

They’re baaack. This summer, the battle between those uber-noble Autobots and the wicked-evil Decepticons rages ever on. That’s right. It’s time to strap your self in for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, the 2+ hour revival of the universe-shaking conflict between robotic alien species.Shia LaBeouf returns in this sequel as Sam Witwicky, that unfortunate lad who keeps getting targeted by the Decepti-robros and their douche-ocracy, and Megan Fox is back as his loving girl, Mikaela Banes. Frankly, it sounds like a bit much to take in all at once. But if you like those creatures that pack more than meets the eye, it sounds like you’re in for a treat. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, language, some crude and sexual material and brief drug material. 151m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek, the Minor and Fortuna.

GALLERY >

As painful as I think the previous opening may be to sit through, this next opening flick might just be even rougher to endure since it’s about a young girl’s struggles with cancer and how her family is torn apart. My Sister’s Keeper, most certainly a downer and definitely for people that like to cry, is the story of a young fresh family that learns their beloved daughter has leukemia. To save her life, they have another daughter to farm for healthy organs. Naturally, the harvested kid takes a stand when she gets a bit older. Yikes. Talk about bad blood. Starring Abigail Breslin and Cameron Diaz and rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality, language and brief teen drinking. 109m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

— Emily Hobelmann

Reviews

YEAR ONE: A recent study of conservatives who watch The Colbert Report concluded that a significant portion of them were probably oblivious to Stephen’s satirical jabs at Republicans, instead operating under the assumption that the Comedy Central host was actually secretly on their side and shared their convictions. Similarly, after viewing Year One one wonders if some of the veiled attacks on religious fundamentalism and biblical interpretation will slip by a large portion of those who are most invested in the subject matter and walk out content that their beloved traditions were validated by their inclusion in a big-budget Hollywood film. Since The Passion of the Christ proved that a faith-based film could be a huge financial success, you can’t help but feel that the screenwriters for “Year One” were snickering to themselves at the prospect of tricking some money out of the wallets of a group of people whose beliefs they clearly question. Unfortunately for them, while they may be successful in their financial aims thanks to the star power of Jack Black and Michael Cera, the fruits of their labor will most likely underwhelm the choir they are preaching to.

What’s most disappointing about Year One is that the film has so many potentially glorious aspects to it, nearly all of which never live up to their promise. Expectations could be understandably high, considering Black’s recent success in the fundamentalist-mocking genre playing Jesus in the satirical viral mini-movie “Prop. 8: The Musical,” which poked fun at popular Biblical interpretation. Religion has provided fodder for thoughtful and comedic movies in the past (Life of Brian, Dogma, Saved!), so it’s unfortunate that the film, a journey through many Old Testament stories, personalities and locations, lacks a reliable road map. What we get is a one-joke premise that appears to have been taken out of the oven before reaching full deliciousness.

Directed by Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day), the film centers on two neolithic hunter-gatherers who look like they would be more at home on the Arcata Plaza than in ancient Israel. Zed (Black) and Oh (Cera) are banished from their tribe for eating from the Tree of Knowledge and find themselves traveling an unexplainable path through 2,000 years of Judeo-Christian tradition. Along the way, they come across a predictable confrontation between Cain and Abel, save Isaac before escaping the threat of circumcision by Abraham (played by Hank Azaria in a standout performance) and make the obligatory trip to to the sex joke goldmine of Sodom (but not Gomorrah? C’mon!). Zed and Oh are sold into slavery, but in classic Mario Bros. fashion overcome their lowly status to save a virgin princess about to be sacrificed. Yay.

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