"Year One"

I think "Year One" thought it was made by Mel Brooks or was a Monty Python movie of sorts. But it's not, and that may have been part of its problem. It mocks conventional norms, yet still finds itself drawn to following those norms. It has funny moments for sure, but for it's stockpile of comedic talents in the cast, it falls short of expectations.

The movie follows the trials and tribulations of Zed (Jack Black) and Oh (Michael Cera), Zed a hunter and Oh a gatherer in a small tribe. The two are kicked out of the tribe after Zed eats an apple from the Forbidden Tree. And thus the Biblical stories begin.

The movie is supposed to be funny because the characters speak like we would today, using slang and sayings that you would only know now. And it is funny for the most part, but they take the jokes too far, eventually boring people the same joke over and over. For instance, when Cain (David Cross) kills Abel (Paul Rudd), which our duo witnesses, he hits him on the head with a rock. Thinking he's dead already, the scene continues, but Abel rises and is again hit on the head by Cain. And again. And again. And so on. That isn't funny after the fourth time, and is the sort of hunor in many of the scenes. Like I said, the cast is stocked, and full of really good, funny actors, but something about it just didn't click with me.

"Year One" is rated PG-13 for sexual content, profanity and pott humour. I give it 5 out of 10 stars.