Last night's Century City screening of Harold Ramis's Year One was so empty and unfunny that I decided to catch a little shuteye. I'd been up since 2:30 am LA time and it wasn't like I was missing anything. How could the director and cowriter of the inspired Groundhog Day, easily one of the most satisfyingly made and richly themed comedies of all time, have allowed himself to make something as lame and sloppy as this? The current 28% Rotten Tomatoes rating is no surprise. It's brazenly awful.
Some are comparing Michael Cera and Jack Black's comic attitude and repartee to that of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, but the craft that went into the old black-and-white Abbott and Costello comedies of the '40 sand '50s puts a piece of shit like Year One to shame. I'm not referring to first-rate A&C films like Buck Privates and Hold That Ghost -- I mean the second-tier genre-spoof stuff they started making in the late '40s (Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, etc.). They were mostly mediocre but at least watchable for that old-studio rigor and professionalism, which is more than you can say for this turdblossom. The idea that professionals made it -- guys who get paid millions to write and act funny -- keeps failing to compute.
It's almost as if Ramis and Black and Cera got together and said, "We need to make a movie that will take all three of us down and sully our reputations. We don't want just a blemish -- we want lifelong friends who've seen it to cross to the other side of Montana Ave. when they see us coming. Now, how do we do this?" In this sense, Year One is a success.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on June 18, 2009 at 8:57 AM
comment #1
JapAdapters
says ...
Ramis's fall off has been (or better yet, was) precipitous, but still, the man had his hands in many a classic from the late 70's to the early 90s.
One of my all time favorite resumes.
Posted by JapAdapters
at June 18, 2009 9:36 AM
comment #2
Movie fan09
says ...
I figured as such.
The project originally had Belushi and Ramis for the leads since it was an old Second City skit.
Cera and Black's comedic personas are totally wrong for it in every single way.
Black has too much heart and not enough confidence.
Cera has too much understatement.
The great thing about Ramis was that he had that "I can't believe I'm doing this" vibe going for him (take a look at Stripes for example). He always said he wasn't a very good performer at SC, and the reason he got roles in movies was because you as an audience member related to those feelings if you ever got the chance to be up there on the screen because you were a regular guy too with no performing abilities.
Take a look at that scene from the trailer where Cera is all in gold, how funny would it be if a young Ramis was there instead?
or for black's character-look at anything in the movie since it's got Belushi written all over it.
Posted by Movie fan09
at June 18, 2009 9:39 AM
comment #3
Movie fan09
says ...
Black has too much heart and not enough confidence.
confidence is a poor choice of words-
absolute bs cockiness is better.
Posted by Movie fan09
at June 18, 2009 9:40 AM
comment #4
Movie fan09
says ...
Cera has too much understatement.
actually, the thing with Cera is that he has performing abilities..while Ramis was just a regular guy..
Posted by Movie fan09
at June 18, 2009 9:44 AM
comment #5
actionman
says ...
Well...if it looks like shit...and it sounds like shit...it must be...
Posted by actionman
at June 18, 2009 9:53 AM
comment #6
George Prager
says ...
Think of all the money and hard work and pasta salad that went into the making of this movie. Makes you want to cry.
Posted by George Prager
at June 18, 2009 10:14 AM
comment #7
Asokan
says ...
I only ever watched one Abbott & Costello movie (I think the one where they meet Dracula) and didn't laugh once. I was actually bored senseless by it.
Posted by Asokan
at June 18, 2009 10:19 AM
comment #8
actionlover
says ...
Well...if it looks like shit...and it sounds like shit...it must be... shit
Shame.
I'll probably just see it once this weekend then wait for the blu-ray to come out.
Posted by actionlover
at June 18, 2009 10:20 AM
comment #9
actionman
says ...
nice to see i'm still loved!
Posted by actionman
at June 18, 2009 10:24 AM
comment #10
Travis Crabtree
says ...
"I only ever watched one Abbott & Costello movie (I think the one where they meet Dracula) and didn't laugh once. I was actually bored senseless by it."
Agreed! It was in that gross black and white and all old-timey looking. I guess it was made in olden days.
So how does "Year One" stand up against Ringo Starr in "Caveman"?
Posted by Travis Crabtree
at June 18, 2009 10:25 AM
comment #11
Pelham123
says ...
Far from second tier, "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein" is one of the great American comedy classics.
Posted by Pelham123
at June 18, 2009 10:30 AM
comment #12
Breedlove
says ...
Too bad. Jeff was right about the setting for this thing too. Similar to 10,000 B.C. Starts out like a prehistoric caveman movie, and they end up in the fuckin' Roman Coliseum or something. Makes no sense. They should have really pushed the surrealism of the caveman angle - no elaborate sets or anything, just, you know, some rocks and a cave.
Posted by Breedlove
at June 18, 2009 10:32 AM
comment #13
Terry McCarty
says ...
Sounds like two of the great comedy disasters of the early 80s--Buck Henry's FIRST FAMILY and Gary Weiss' WHOLLY MOSES.
Posted by Terry McCarty
at June 18, 2009 10:58 AM
comment #14
George Prager
says ...
Now we need another DRAGNET movie.
Posted by George Prager
at June 18, 2009 11:19 AM
comment #15
Deathtongue_Groupie
says ...
The way they sell movies these days, you know if that's the funniest bits they could throw in the trailer, the film was going to be you-can-bank-on-it unfunny.
I get the feeling that after the hero's welcome Ramis got from Apatow & Co for his cameo in KNOCKED UP, got out the Old Script Locker from the attic and threw this on Judd's desk. Apatow was too star struck and flattered by the gesture he just couldn't bring himself to rewrite one of his idols and we get to yet another high-concept, low laughs "comedy."
The problem with people who come out of Second City, Groundlings, etc. is that they really don't care if something works or not. The attitude is - if it dies, just move on to something that kills. Great for 5 minute skits among 15 others, torture to sit through for 90mins.
Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie
at June 18, 2009 11:29 AM
comment #16
RMBurnett
says ...
Folks,
Don't worry. You'll laugh at this...the greatest thing I've ever seen. Ever.
Actionman...grab a towel first:
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810045661/video/14045555
Posted by RMBurnett
at June 18, 2009 11:51 AM
comment #17
arnold stang
says ...
This one had stinker on it from Day One.
And Pelham 123 is correct - AACMF is one of hte best horror comedies ever made.
Posted by arnold stang
at June 18, 2009 11:54 AM
comment #18
Rich S.
says ...
RM, I saw that right before you posted it. You're right. It's magnificent.
It's almost like Emmerich said, "what haven't we blown up yet? St. Peter's? The Himalayas? Go for it!" You'd think John Cusack would know better.
Posted by Rich S.
at June 18, 2009 12:04 PM
comment #19
bmcintire
says ...
If you take a look at pretty much anything John Cusack has done since GROSS POINTE BLANK, you would be very well aware that he does not know better.
That said, 2012 looks like it will supply all of the sweet, sweet destruction that THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL could not afford to render. And is the November release date mean we are supposed to take this thing seriously? Roland Emmerich = Summer Popcorn Movie. Did they not take notes in class?
Posted by bmcintire
at June 18, 2009 12:29 PM
comment #20
The Bandsaw Vigilante
says ...
Why the fuck doesn't someone just option Greg Bear's THE FORGE OF GOD, and make that into a film? Emmerich just stole basically every potential money cum-shot from that book, but at least FORGE still has some great characters, genuine, earned pathos, and aliens causing the planet to explode at the end.
Now, thanks to this trailer, I don't have to pay to see 2012.
Posted by The Bandsaw Vigilante
at June 18, 2009 12:38 PM
comment #21
Geoff
says ...
I hate the ads for this movie. That annoying song they use from Slumdog Millionaire? This film looks horrible.
Posted by Geoff
at June 18, 2009 12:45 PM
comment #22
BurmaShave
says ...
Is that Sam Elliot? If Sam Elliot is playing a caveman I'm down.
Posted by BurmaShave
at June 18, 2009 1:11 PM
comment #23
televisiontears
says ...
It pains me to see Ramis' name on this thing. He's one of the few comedic minds from that generation I'd love to see more of. It's beyond disappointing that this is what we get.
Who knows? Maybe the next Ghostbusters will be some kind of vindication. Or maybe it'll be the sad, desperate stab at former glory that it was destined to be.
On a somewhat-related note, I'm expecting the GB videogame in the mail today, and I am plump with glee. Because I am a nerd.
Posted by televisiontears
at June 18, 2009 1:14 PM
comment #24
The Hoyk
says ...
I still say if they CGI some helmets onto Black and Cera, they can sell it to France as the new Asterix adventure.
Posted by The Hoyk
at June 18, 2009 1:56 PM
comment #25
lipranzer
says ...
Elliot's not listed in the credits, though that was my first thought as well. I'm guessing it's either Ramis or Hank Azaria in a bad wig.
Posted by lipranzer
at June 18, 2009 2:25 PM
comment #26
Breedlove
says ...
It's Ramis.
Posted by Breedlove
at June 18, 2009 3:18 PM
comment #27
dangovich
says ...
WTF is on Michael Cera's head?
Posted by dangovich
at June 18, 2009 3:25 PM
comment #28
BarryR
says ...
This is as good a place as any to reaffirm that Abbott & Costello were comedy gold, even on their off day. Their live TV performances on the Colgate Hour in the '50s were hilarious. People who don't find them funny nowadays--well, it's their loss.
Posted by BarryR
at June 18, 2009 4:12 PM
comment #29
Stringer Bell
says ...
I compare Cusack's career to Hoffman's in 1 way (even though each peaked at very different ages).
For years, Cusack wouldnt touch a commercial 'money-grab' movie. He was in it for the art. Same with Hoffman.
Suddenly, a money grab like 'Con Air' and 'Meet the Fockers' come along. There goes artistic integrity. The money's too good!
I am of the opinion that A&C Meet Frank is in their top 3.
Posted by Stringer Bell
at June 18, 2009 7:02 PM
comment #30
Terry McCarty
says ...
George Prager wrote:
Now we need another DRAGNET movie.
Actually, Universal would probably lap up that idea: Bill Hader as Joe Friday, Jr. with Jonah Hill as the sidekick/partner and Dan Aykroyd in a cameo as Friday Sr.
Posted by Terry McCarty
at June 18, 2009 8:21 PM
comment #31
sz
says ...
there are definite laughs in the trailer, undeniable. you must have slept through those laughs during the screening. very professional of you.
Posted by sz
at June 19, 2009 7:10 AM
comment #32
paul_kolas
says ...
If Manhola Dargis gave it a rave, it must be a work of genius - or - Ramis slipped her some of Bernie Madoff's ponze money in the screening room.
Posted by paul_kolas
at June 19, 2009 9:04 AM
comment #33
Terry McCarty
says ...
televisiontears wrote:
Who knows? Maybe the next Ghostbusters will be some kind of vindication. Or maybe it'll be the sad, desperate stab at former glory that it was destined to be.
It couldn't be any worse than Ivan Reitman's EVOLUTION.
Posted by Terry McCarty
at June 19, 2009 11:42 AM
comment #34
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