Land of the Lost

Impressions before seeing it
It looked like it could be fun for all of its crazy fantasy and sci-fi elements.

How was it?
The only thing this movie really has going for it is its concept, which I know is based on an old TV show, meaning they didn't bring anything good to the table for the film adaptation. I really like the idea of a strange world where past, present, and future all exist simultaneously, and seeing that world was fun, but mostly Land of the Lost was just disappointing. All of the special effects, first of all, were so crude that nothing blended seamlessly. You could tell every time when something was CG or green screen, which constantly pulls you out of the movie. However, the biggest mistake made here is a very heavy reliance on Will Ferrell. It seems to me that the writers didn't put much effort into the script and just let Ferrell do his thing, thinking this would make the movie a hilarious smash hit because Will Ferrell is popular. Don't get me wrong, he can be really funny in some movies, but other times he comes off as trying too hard to be wacky. This was the latter. I only found one part funny, and that was when Rick (Ferrell) and Will (Danny McBride) find a large, vibrating crystal that gives your voice an auto-tune effect if you touch it while talking, so they start singing Cher's "Believe". Still a cheap joke, but I laughed. Oh, and one last thing: this is one of those sexist comedies where the female character (Anna Friel) has to be the smart one who isn't allowed to be funny. We should be past that by now.

Recommendation
I think this goes in the same pile as Year One; that is to say, the kind of movie where they pretty much write around an actor's persona and expect that to carry the film. It's less funny than Year One, but slightly less forgettable thanks to a better concept. If you're really into fantasy and sci-fi like I am, it might be worth watching once if you don't have to pay anything to see it, but you won't be missing much if you never do.