YEAR ONE
US, 2009, 97 minutes, Colour.
Jack Black, Michael Sera, Oliver Platt, David Cross, Christopher Mintz- Plasse, Vinnie Jones, Hank Azaria, Juno Temple, Olivia Wilde, June Diane Raphael, Xander Berkely, Gia Carides, Matthew Willig.
Directed by Harold Ramis.
Not really Year One, of course, but somewhere, vaguely, 'back then'. It opens with hunters and gathers, moves into an area of farmers (Cain and Abel as well as Adam and other family members), then, suddenly, Abraham and Isaac and a long visit to Sodom.
A reviewer remarked that it need not (should not?) be seen by anyone over 16. A bit harsh. Of course, it's no masterpiece (nor ever intended to be). But, should you happen upon it, it is advised to put your mind into neutral and just coast along because, while it is not particularly funny (unless you have never heard a lot of the jokes before), it is often enough amusing for the moment.
Harold Ramis has made some good comedies like Groundhog Day. Here he is, as co-writer and director, in the vein for broad spoof. He has probably been looking at History of the World Part I and The Life of Brian (think of the stoning in that film and the stoning here). Mel Brooks is not always as subtle as the Pythons but he has a persuasive sense of humour. Year One is not in that league, relying on corny jokes, some bodily function humour (not too much), and the incongruity of characters with 21st century language and attitude using it in a BC situation.
If you like Jack Black's brand of self-deprecating but vain comedy, with his rubber-faced expressions and his boisterous remarks and timing, then you won't be disappointed. This is very much a Jack Black stand-up comedy routine film.
To his neo-Oliver Hardy is Michael Cera's neo-Stan Laurel. Just as Jack Black always does his schtick, so Michael Cera tends to be same (Superbad, Juno, Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist). However, his style is as introverted as Black's is extraverted. He has a fine sense of timing and a tone that combines innocence, common sense observation, a would-be shrewdness and a flair for deadpan one-lines finely delivered.
I don't know what Oliver Platt thinks now of his charade as the overbearingly effeminate high priest. He has probably hurried on to his next film.
Whether Cain and Abel would enjoy the film, I'm not sure. David Cross's Cain gets a lot of screen time while Paul Rudd's Abel... well, we know what happened there. Harold Ramis is Adam. Hank Azariah is Abraham with a thing about imposing circumcision on his enemies in Sodom. Not meant to be offensive to Bible readers and believers, just some corny religious spoofing.
1.The target audience? The spoof, the stand-up comedy? Modern ethos in an ancient setting?
2.The strong cast, Jack Black and Michael Sera as a type of Laurel and Hardy? The range of comedians? The work of Harold Remis?
3.The ancient world: the village, huts, hunting the boar, seeing the cougar and its attack, the python? The transition to farms and wagons? The city, Abraham and Isaac? The city of Sodom, the palaces, squares, temples, costumes and décor? The feel of the past?
4.The cinema influences, Mel Brooks, the Monty Pythons?
5.Modern and ancient, language, phrases, accents? Knowing and unknowing?
6.The world of the hunters, wounding Marlak? The people against Zed? Oh and his being a gatherer, the strawberries, put upon? The attraction towards Maya and Eema? Village life, the feast, the dancing, the rituals, the cavemen hitting the women over the head? The male dominance?
7.The introduction to Zed, Jack Black and his presence, style, look, references to his being fat, the stand-up patter, wisecracks? The incongruous behaviour? His being in denial, his vanity, self-deprecation, heroic and delusional, cowardly? Eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, the experience of having knowledge? His speech about leaving, accidentally burning down the village, people chasing him? The bodily function jokes, the bear?
8.The contrast with Oh, gathering, the delivery of his lines by Michael Sera, a blend of the wise and the innocent, his timing, the points he was making, sense and intelligence, sexual relationships, love for Eema, with Zed, the snake, losing everything, the cougar attack, making the fire, making arrows?
9.Zed and Oh and who was the leader or not? Their arguments? The encounter with Cain, witnessing his murder of Abel? Adam, the family, dinner? The search for Abel’s body? The ride on the wagon making them sick because of the speed?
10.Cain and Abel, their characters, the killing, Cain rationalising, his attitude towards his family, the daughter and lesbian, the jokes about the wagons, the pursuit?
11.Abraham and Isaac, the familiar story, Zed stopping them, the argument, Abraham’s explanation about circumcision, the attack on Sodom, the description of Sodom?
12.The preparation for Sodom, Zed and Oh and their decisions?
13.Being taken as slaves, Maya and Eema as slaves, Cain selling them in the marketplace?
14.The soldiers, Vinnie Jones as Sargon? Hard? Zed and Oh in uniforms, going to the city, not bowing before the princess?
15.The night, the gathering, Zed and his being summoned by the princess, dared to go into the Holy of Holies, finding Oh inside? The high priest, the massage, Oh painted in gold?
16.The king and queen, power, the prime minister, princess, the role of the high priest, the sacrificing of the virgins?
17.In prison, Oh hanging upside down, his urinating? Zed’s reaction? Their being freed?
18.The crowd, the sacrifice, the role of the high priest, his going into the fire, Zed interpreting it as a sacrifice? The building, the collapse, Zed as the Chosen One and offering this as a sign? The revolution, the king and queen, the prime minister trying on the crown and leaving? Maya, the princess giving her a drink? The coming of the rain?
19.Oh, his leadership, saving Eema, his relationship with her, Maya and the kisses with Zed?
20.The princess and ruling at the end? The farewell, their going? The overall impact of the comedy? How funny, amusing, childish, adult?
