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2.46- random rants Fall 2002
2.47

LAND OF THE LOST (2009)

Movie review by David Blackwell

 

93 minutes, PG-13

ASPECT RATIO:  1.85:1

STUDIO:  Universal Pictures/ Relativity Media/ Sid & Marty Krofft Productions

Theatrical RELEASE DATE:  6-5-2009

 

STARRING Will Ferrell (Rick Marshall), Anna Friel (Holly Cantrell), Will Stanton (Danny McBride), Jorma Taccone (Chaka), John Boylan (Enik), Leonard Nimoy (the Zorn)

WRITTEN by Chris Henchy and Dennis McNicholas, based on the series produced by Sid & Marty Krofft

DIRECTED by Brad Silberling

PLOT SYNOPSIS (from imdb.com):  On his latest expedition, Dr. Rick Marshall (Ferrell) is sucked into a space-time vortex alongside his research assistant (Friel) and a redneck survivalist (McBride). In this alternate universe, the trio makes friends with a primate named Chaka (Taccone), their only ally in a world full of dinosaurs and other fantastic creatures. Can they all make it back to our world alive, and if so: Will Dr. Marshall can go from zero to hero with his discoveries?

 

ANALYSIS:  I really enjoyed LAND OF THE LOST for all of its funny and sometimes really stupid humor.  Yes, the screenplay is pointless.   LAND OF THE LOST was tooled to be a comedic vehicle for Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, and Danny McBride.   The actors carry this film and make the humor work.   Will fans of the TV series hate this film spoof?  Yes, probably so.  

 

All of the elements are there from the TV series: the slow (obviously costumed) Sleestak, a mean T-Rex, Chaka, part of the TV theme song (in one scene involving a giant bug), and a trip in time and space to the Land of the Lost.   The three main characters are named after the family members in the TV series, but they aren’t a family.   Holly (Friel) is a love interest for down-on-his-luck inept (and laughed at) Professor Rick Marshall (Ferrell) and Will (McBride) is a redneck who sells fireworks (and has a mystery cave ride).   Chaka is a comedic horndog (aka horny primate that Rick first hates) who loves to molest our characters (but they think it is just the behavior of a primate).   Then somehow Holly understands Chaka’s language. 

 

The plot boils down to lots of running around, being chased by a T-Rex nicknamed Grumpy, a Sleestak in a tunic (that Will says not to trust- never trust a person in a tunic), bugs getting the better of Rick, and a search for a time machine that will enable the trio to get back to their own world.   In the end, LAND OF THE LOST is just a dumb and funny way to spend 90 minutes with a screenplay that just isn’t very good- a comedic vehicle to get Will Ferrell to do dumb and funny things.   Although the music score and end credits are pretty cool (don’t miss the end credits for a weak set-up for a sequel).

 

This movie review is (c)6-5-2009 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com