Land of the Lost - Review

LAND OF THE LOST is simply random. All of its elements rely only on being random and maintaining it throughout. Notice that I haven't added comedy after it. There are many examples of random comedy (Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Family Guy), but LAND OF THE LOST can't be included because it is absolutely unfunny and has no sense of order in its proceedings or in the making of the film.

This whole review can be nothing but a laundry list of complaints so here is just a "random" few: Why the pointless prologue with the astronaut? How did Holly (Anna Friel) carry the dinosaur egg back to Earth? Why did I have to sit through a long skit where Will Ferrell poured urine all over him? Why did everything look super fake and green screened? How can Holly communicate perfectly with the ape man Chaka (Jorma Taccone)? Why would the villain want to conquer Earth? Why should we fear the Sleestaks if they hardly do anything? And, finally, how could all of these and many other problems got into the final cut?

The original Land of the Lost television show was simply a fun romp through a prehistoric world as a group of family members struggle yet enjoy the surroundings and new cultures while looking for a way back. The film, however, is a group of older adults who act like complete boards of wood while engaging in stupid action moments and can only experience the now ultra-surreal world only through violence, sex, and drugs. That last statement may seem like I'm over thinking but it's not: Will Ferrell and his two helpers often fight with whatever catches their sight, They interact with Chaka by groping and humping, and there is a way too long sequence where the three males are flying high due to narcotic plant.

Will Ferrell has been getting flack for this film and he deserves it whether it is his own fault or not. He doesn't know how to play his character, instead switching between uptight seriousness and his generic goofy shtick constantly. I don't know if he tampered with the script, but it is odd that all the comedy and moments that are supposed to bring down the house only come from him. Anna Friel and Danny McBride are both great comedic actors but they have nothing to add since the spotlight is always on Ferrell. McBride looks more disgruntled, since he seems to have to stick to the script and lose the fireball-hatred element that makes him hilarious to watch. Friel, on the other hand, does the stereotypical woman role of motivator/kidnappee who has to fall in love with the protagonist despite the lack of chemistry.

The only good thing about watching this turd was that the shear dullness of it prevented any anger to build up with me. Not even the misogynistic comments throughout it could provoke me. Not even the scene where the group rip-offs a Seinfeld gag and watches a ice cream man get mauled to death. This film needs to be lost and never found.

FINAL REVIEW: 1 / 5