Land of the Lost Blu-Ray with Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride (PG-13) +Movie Reviews

"Captain Kirk's nipples!"

Kevin J. Loria | New Orleans, LA USA | 06/05/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Captain Kirk's nipples!"

...and if that quote didn't tell you the new big budget big screen "Land of the Lost" film isn't exactly directed at the Saturday morning TV crowd... I fondly recall spending those mornings in the 70's with Will, Holly, Dr. Marshall and the Sleestak, so when I heard Will Ferrell would be taking the lead I was content in the knowledge that the campiness of the original Sid and Marty Kroft show would be preserved. As fate would have it this preservation extends even to the cheesy theme song which Ferrell nearly performs in one scene...this theme song pretty much covers the series and movie's premise...the aforementioned characters, on a "less than" routine expedition via an earthquake and a tachyon gadget (this part is new) end up in a parallel space they call the "Land of the Lost" complete with prehistoric critters and lizardmen. Unlike the series they need to find Dr. Marshall's misplaced gadget in order to get home, this leads to lots of mishaps and sight gags. But as I mentioned, this is not your father's "Land of the Lost" this is a Will Ferrell, albeit watered down, but nonetheless, a Will Ferrell film, so as you'd expect there is overt crude references flying aplenty, including hot Sleestak-on-Sleestak action (not really on screen), nothing to cringe-worthy...although some drug and vague sexual jokes.

"LOTL" is bookended by a "TODAY" show sequence in which Matt himself interviews Dr. Marshall about is kooky space/time theories and then again later interviews a vindicated Dr. Marshall at the movie's end. Dr. Marshall is classic Will Ferrell, the pompous, dimwitted boob he plays soooo well, so you know precisely what you will get upon entering the theater. This time he is a nutty paleontologist who has a strange fixation on "Chorus Line" and comfort food binges. "Land of the Lost" is more "Elf" than "Anchorman", I guess. What is new here is the digital dino and big bug eye candy, not really the norm for a Ferrell film, more in the spirit of Ringo Starr's "Caveman" than "Jurassic Park" though (especially the cave-boy-speak).

The kitsch aside, if possible, "LOTL" includes some impressive sets, some true to the original show, like the Sleestak ruins and some less Kroft, but equally cool, parallel world Bermuda Triangle parallel world clutter ala desert complete with missing ships, planes and gas stations. Also true to the Kroft look are the Sleestak lizard people (one of which is voiced by Leonard Nimoy a.k.a Spock) who look largely unchanged, but I'd have bought a ticket just for them anyway.
"

Aaron Merkel | Kutztown, PA USA | 06/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a fan of the original series and when I heard about this movie, I was a bit disappointed. However, the movie does not make fun of the original series and, instead, gives it respect. The movie is surprisingly funny. It's how every actor in the movie "knows" it's just a fun movie and they all seem to have a good time. There are plenty of things thrown in for nostalgia for the fans of the original series. I recommend this movie."

FUN WITH THE BRAIN OFF

fmwaalex | Austin, TX USA | 01/15/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"LAND OF THE LOST

I knew way before the viewing of this took place that this film would not be for everybody. You could just tell that it would be crazy and well just plain fun. Thankfully I was aware that I should not go into this with high expectations [thanks Mr.KIA]. Thanks to the warning I believe that I was able to enjoy this more so than I would have. With that said this is not a classic but if you watch it with the brain off it is fun. Staring of course Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride, and Jorma Taccone the cast really helps this one out. Still fun will be had if you go in with no expectations and the brain off.

Dr. Rick Marshall [Ferrell] is a crazy and weird minded guy, or so the science community believes. Years have gone by since they booted him from his life's work on time warps and such and reduced him to a school teacher. That is until Holly Cantrell [Friel] walks into his classroom and into his life. The thing about her is that she believes in not only his theories but also in him. After an eating binge takes place he finishes his tachyon amplifier or whatever it is and off they are to find a site where it will work. They find it at a seemingly abandoned tourist attraction. But in order to get to the part they need they must take a boat tour with their guide Will Stanton [McBride]. One thing leads to another and they end up in you guessed it, the land of the lost. It is here that they meet Cha-Ka [Taccone] and all the fun starts to happen. They learn that they are part of a bigger adventure then once thought, dinosaurs included.

The film is far from perfect like the characters never seem to build up any before they are in the Lost Land, except maybe Will Stanton. But Holly in particular appears out of nowhere and the story immediately kicks off. That's another thing about this film, it just kinda starts but I guess that is part of the fun. The writers did a good enough job but it seemed like they didn't know which way they wanted to go with this. Still there is some good stuff in here and the director [as he says in the commentary] did include a lot of stuff from the series, see if you can find them all. So there are problems but there are some funny moments to be had, particularly the cast saves this one.

Star Will Ferrell is actually perfect for this type of role and plays the dim witted yet somehow smart scientist with ease. In fact if anyone thinks any different I would say the writing for the characters is off more so than the actors. Anna Friel is good in her role as well and does a good job as the woman infatuated with the good Dr. still her character was rushed in but once again a writing error. While both of them are great in this film Danny McBride, and Jorma Taccone seem to be show stealers in this. Jorma is great as Cha-ka and is one of the more entertaining things about this film. Danny is absolutely hilarious at least to me in this movie and provides some of the best moments. Like when he posses for a picture when a giant T-Rex is about to eat them, or when he gives a big heartfelt speech about joining Rick in battle [you'll see]. I don't know but I found him hilarious in this, just me I guess.

Like I said earlier this is not a perfect film and does have some problems but if you go in just wanting to have fun, you will. I was able to get the warning ahead of time [thanks again KIA] so I enjoyed it. I do recommend this film but go in with no expectations and not expecting the show to be duplicated. The film is fun and the performances are fun as well, I say check it out as a rental at least and see from there. Also this film was made for fans of the series who are grown now [at least the original viewers] so they should get the nice throwbacks to the original show. Still it is fun enough for new viewers.
"

Good

A. Sullins | 05/17/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I really liked this movie. I also remember watching the 70's version of this when I was just a little puppy! This movie does it justice (IMO)!"

Goofy, Trippy, And I Like It

K. Fontenot | The Bayou State | 05/11/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"2009's "Land of the Lost" seems to be one of those films that you either love or hate. Unfortunately for stars Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, and Danny McBride, the latter group appears to be in the majority.

The film isn't so much of a big screen adaptation of the beloved childrens' series that shares its namesake. Instead, it's more of a campy and comedic revisioning of the show. While you'll recognize the names of Rick, Will, and Holly, you won't see them as you might remember.

In this tale, Ferrell plays Dr. Rick Marshall, a washed-up scientist who is made out to be a buffoon by Matt Lauer (yep, THAT Matt Lauer) during an interview on the Today show when he attempts to explain that time-dimensional travel is possible.

A few years later, we find Marshall teaching middle-schoolers and being ridiculed even more. It's at this point that Holly Cantrell (Friel), a former grad student, shows up believing Marshall's theories to be true and possible to prove. She convinces Marshall to complete the tachyon amplifier, a device that he believes will allow him to travel to other dimensions.

Soon enough, the pair end up at a cave which appears to be the ideal spot for testing the amplifier. Leading the group on the "routine expedition" is Will Stanton (McBride), a stoner tour guide who uses cheap tactics in an attempt to scare his guests on their journey.

The tachyon amplifier begins to become active while traveling through the cave and soon the entire crew goes down a huge waterfall and end up in the Land of the Lost. They save Cha-Ka (Jorma Taccone) from sure death and then set out to find a way home via the now-lost tachyon amplifier. The group runs into Enik, a tunic-sporting Sleestak, who claims to be able to help them get home and also stop an evil Sleestak army from invading Earth. Will Dr. Marshall, Will, and Holly be successful in their attempt to save mankind? Does it realy matter in a film like this? You'll have to either laugh your way through or look away in disgust for the rest of the film in order to find out.

I won't say that this film is comedy gold. It's not that by a long shot. However, I must say that for folks who grew up on the original series, this film should be enjoyable. Throughout the dialogue of the film, fans of the original series will be able to lace together almost the entire theme song. Holly's clothing at one point and her hair throughout most of the group's time in the Land of the Lost call back memories of Kathy Coleman's innocent portrayal of Holly in the 1970's. The Pakuni, Sleestak, and even Grumpy have key parts in the film. In short, the film manages to give a bit of respect to the original series without ridiculing its innocence.

With that said, I must point out that although the original series was innocent and kid-friendly, it's big screen update certainly is not. There is quite a bit of coarse language throughout the film, a number of adult themes and references, and even one particularly violent scene involving an ice cream truck.

So why did I give "Land of the Lost" four stars? For the simple fact that it is a humorous campfest that never tries to be more than what it really is: an adult spoof of a much-loved children's program. Much like in "Elf" and "Blades of Glory," Ferrell's humor is restrained a bit. He doesn't become overly annoying. Anna Friel is easy on the eyes and plays her love-interest role with comedic flair. Danny McBride should be getting bigger roles by now. He's much too funny to be standing in Ferrell's shadow. If you haven't watched his HBO series, "Eastbound and Down," I highly recommend it.

"Land of the Lost" isn't for everyone. If you really enjoyed the old TV show and want to have a bit of fun with it as an adult, pick up this DVD. If you're too serious to watch this film for what it is, don't even bother. I recommend "Land of the Lost" to anyone who grew up in the 70's or early 80's and remember the original series this film is loosely based on. Most Ferrell fans will probably enjoy this as well, but some of them might prefer Ferrell's more unrestrained antics in his other films more."

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