Search - Year One (Rated) [UMD for PSP] on UMD for PSP

Was it really all that bad?

Pikminfan | Rossburg, Ohio United States | 11/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I seem to find myself in the minority here, but I actually liked "Year One". Having seen it in the theater, I thought it was a fairly fun and light-hearted experience all around. The humor is perhaps not as broad as some prefer-but myself, I sort of enjoyed the subtleties. These type of films usually benefit from a second or even third viewing if you give them a chance.

In "Year One", Jack Black plays his part adequately but seems to yield the majority of the spotlight to his on-screen cohort Michael Cera. Michael Cera is the real star of "Year One" and Black seems to know it-taking a step back for the younger comedic actor to really shine. Cera's comedic delivery is dry and spot-on for his character "Oh" and he plays the part with real charismatic charm. In short, it is Cera's film, not Black's-and I wouldn't have had it any other way.


When it comes down to it, Year One is just a harmless little diversionary film which doesn't take itself too seriously and nor should you. I personally thought it had a lot of wit and charm. Perhaps it just didn't strike the majority of audiences in the same way. That's too bad too because personally, I found this film far more entertaining than some of the summer's bloated special effects films.

Surprisingly, this film looks amazing on Blu-Ray too-especially the city scenes."

Simply, its Black being Black, and Cera being Cera

Dustin Hotz | 09/25/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This movie appeared much more funny from previews, but seeing it in theaters just did not live up to the hype. As I mentioned in my title it is mostly Jack Black, acting as Jack Black (Loud, Outlandish, Stupid) and Michael Cera acting as his characters usually would (Awkward, shy, quiet) but in a biblical setting.

The movie begins in a small village with Black and Cera as friends. Black is a hunter and Cera is a gatherer. After eating from the tree of knowledge, Black is excommunicated from the village and Cera decides to follow, while the other members of the village are taken prisoner including Cera's love interest.

The story continues leading the characters to several biblical events that are quite entertaining such as meeting Abraham, Cain and Able, Sodom, and many other events. Black and Cera continue on their quest finally liberating the village from their enslavement and capture and Cera becomes a more confident individual and gains the attention of his love interest.

Overall the action is predictable and some of the moments in the movie miss their mark but with a few one liners and some interesting biblical references this movie is pretty good once or twice."

Really enjoyable comedy

ZJC | 10/26/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've read a couple of critical reviews of this movie and can't help but laugh at the disdain for this movie. I don't see how people expected greatness and depth out of a movie with Jack Black set in prehistoric and biblical times. I mean could they not see that by looking at the cover with a clean shaven, doe eyed Cera cast as a caveman? You want comedic depth, go watch "Best in Show" or "Arrested Development". You want silly and mindless toilet humor, then watch this.

I didn't go into this movie expecting an Oscar worthy movie or ground breaking performance, in fact nobody should. This movie is obviously intended for you to shut your brain down and let go for a couple of hours. I really enjoyed this movie and love Black in these type of roles. Cera plays the same role as he did in "Superbad" which isn't a bad thing since he's perfect as the shy awkward guy. You get that this movie is going in a whole different direction from the on-set of the movie when the cavemen speak with current day dialogue. It's right at that point where you're either sticking with it or bailing because even the most novice move watcher knows that this isn't "History of the World". If you like stuff from the Apatow troupe then this movie might be up your alley. If you don't get the Apatow reference then you obviously won't get this movie."

I went hunting for laughs and gathered very few!

Hammock Rider | Talk of the Town Trailer Estates Park - Southern C | 02/17/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I can review this movie in one sentence. Whoops, now I guess that would be two.Okay, make that three. Now make that four. Now make it five. Six. Seven. Eight.......

Did you like that humor? It was kinda funny the first time but after the 10th time it had only become geometrically less funny? Well if you do, then buy a ticket to Year One, because that's the formula here. You get the same type of humor over and over and over again. The actors all do the style of humor they have done several times before, but this time they really seem to just stumble through the motions. So it's like watching a movie with Zombie Jack Black and Zombie Michael Cera and Zombie David Gross shambling through their routines. Maybe the gags were funnier on paper or maybe the actors were all really tired when they were improving, but most of the humor falls flat. Little kids might like the gross out humor, but they will have a hard time sitting still through all the long, boring parts. The plot, Black and Cera are loser hunter-gatherers who get kicked out of their tribe and decide to rescue their would-be girlfriends from slavers, isn't bad for a zany comedy. I think Hope and Crosby could have pulled a "Road" movie out of it. And I would like to see Jack Black and Michael Cera star in another movie together again, because they do seem to have some comedy chemistry, believe it or not. I'd just like their next movie to be actually, consistently funny.

Definitely a renter at best, the missing link here is between the comedy bits and the audinece's laughter."