YEAR ONE

This movie, directed by Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day, Vacation) and starring Jack Black and Michael Cera as a pair of misfit tribesmen on an epic journey in 1 A.D., literally made me laugh until I cried. Seriously.

Much to my surprise and gradual glee, Year One never pretends to be anything other than a really low-brow comedy (and I mean that as a compliment!) aimed at making the audience belly laugh by whatever means necessary... even though it weaves some really clever evolution vs. creationism subtext throughout.

When bumbling Zed (Black) and meek Oh (Cera) are driven out of their remote forest village by their caveman-esque tribe, they discover that a whole new world exists beyond the mountains that surround them. Soon, they’re interacting with some of the Old Testament’s most famous denizens, including Abraham (Hank Azaria), Isaac (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), Adam (Ramis), Cain (David Cross) and Abel (Paul Rudd). They witness a few of the Bible’s most notable events, and eventually find themselves sold into slavery, where a whole slew of new challenges await.... most importantly, freeing themselves and their tribal lady loves (June Diane Raphael and Juno Temple).

Filled to overflowing with juvenile humor, gross-out jokes and big-name talent (Vinnie Jones, Olivia Wilde and Oliver Platt in addition to those already listed), the film just works. The screenplay has all the characters acting and speaking in contemporary language and using modern-day slang, all the while setting its action two millennia ago, and the result is terrific. (I can’t imagine how leaden and unfunny everything would have been if they’d tried to be authentic and reverent when it came to dialogue.)

Black and Cera are a brilliant comic pair, with one’s manic energy perfectly complemented by the other’s dry, straight-man counterpoints. Together, they are hilarious and wonderfully hapless as they try to maneuver their way to safety by blending in as best they can. Which is to say: not at all, and with hysterical results. Cera is especially great, with his quiet comic asides and anxiety providing many of the film’s best moments. It was thanks to him that my movie-going pal devolved into sobs of laughter, and I promptly followed suit.

Further to that, the key to truly enjoying Year One is to buy into what it’s selling – this isn’t intellectual comedy, it’s stupid. (Again, meant in the best way!) There’s poo-eating and projectile vomiting and a sequence involving the rubbing of oil all over Platt’s overly hairy body... you need to know it’s that kind of flick. But it revels in its own baseness, features a bunch of incredibly funny people being funny, and makes for a deliciously frivolous way to spend an evening.