Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) has spent the last three years as something of a scientific punchline. He believes that he has created a space and time machine allowing people to travel to alternate universes in search of new fuel sources. After getting booted off the Today show and the scientific community for his asinine theories Marshall has pretty much given up. One day he is tracked down by Holly Cantrell (Anna Friel) who believes that his machine could work. They set out to a trashy tourist trap in the middle of the desert run by Will Stanton (Danny McBride). While on a pitiful raft ride there is an earthquake, the time machine gets turned on and the three of them fall into a time warp, entering the land of the lost. We learn that in this dimension the past, present, and future are all rolled into one. The land is full of dinosaurs, giant crabs, Sleestacks (human/lizard hybrids that have rows of sharp teeth), and then there is Chaka (Jorma Taccone) a little human/monkey that enjoys dancing insanely to oldies, and grabbing Holly's chest. The plot then turns incredibly simple: "How do we get back home?"
My problems with this film are numerous. The whole time paradox is not even worth mentioning because it is silly and senseless. I don't know why they are called special effects this time around because there is nothing special about them. Dinos have looked way better in films like Jurassic Park and King Kong. Films that are considerably older, but look way better. Speaking of the dinos I had a huge problem with the decision to give the T-Rex a personality. Somehow this mammoth creature of death and destruction begins a personal vendetta against Marshall for being called an idiot. He doesn't want to attack because he is a predator, and he only ever attacks Marshall. There literally is a scene when the T-Rex lets Holly and Will walk right by just so he can battle Rick. Once the battle is finished in a pretty awful manner, Holly then scolds the beast right to it's face. I figured that this was supposed to humor any kids watching, but I found it cringe worthy. For a comedy this one is pretty unfunny. There are a few chuckles in the early McBride scenes, and hearing Marshall tell Chaka to protect master then turning around and calling him a "little asshole" I have to admit was pretty funny. Other than these weak offerings this film is devoid of laughs.
This film is also a career low for nearly everyone involved. Will Ferrell has had a pretty streaky record since leaving the world of SNL to make films. He has had comedic success in fare like Step Brothers, and is even better with dramatic rolls like Stranger Than Fiction and Winter Passing. But on the flip side of that coin you have some real misfires like Semi-Pro and Bewitched. Ah, Bewitched a perfect film to compare this one to. It originates from an old TV show that has been updated to modern times, stars Will Ferrell, and is apparently a comedy without any real laughs, sound familiar? I found Anna Friel adorable on the cancelled to soon Pushing Daises, but she is so miscast here. Her accent was distracting, and she really brings nothing to the table aside from having a chest for Chaka to grab. Danny McBride has always been reliable to me for a laugh, and he comes the closest to saving face here. He does arrogant redneck so well I'm beginning to believe he is not an actor at all. Almost the same way Michael Cera does flustered teen to perfection. These guys aren't acting they just are that way in reality. Director Brad Silberling has few films to his credit, but they were not bad ones at all. Moonlight Mile and Lemony Snicket were both quality flicks to me.
It really makes me wonder: how could a pretty good cast, a pretty good director, and a pretty good idea have taken the wrong step at nearly every turn? The answer is that this film is unfunny, uninspired, and just downright lazy. It will possibly end up being one of the biggest disappointments this summer. I'm still not ready to turn my back completely on anyone here, but just a warning Mr. Ferrell: stay away form old TV to film updates, they certainly are not helping your career any. D
2 comments:
whats up with Ebert giving it a 3?
I read it when I got home from work last night. He dosen't have a good defense for it. He's all like: "It was weird, the effects are unconvincing, everyone of my collagues hates it, but I liked it." WHY? Even he admits he will stand alone on this one and he is going to. He never mentions how unfunny this COMEDY is either. I was also going to note how humorless and repetitive it is to have the time machine play showtunes, another example of this films true state of awfulness. Let's hope The Hangover can cure this comedy pothole.
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