Movie Review: Land Of The Lost

By Justin Velasquez
July 1, 2009

With every film Will Ferrell releases the expectations are high.  For a long time he was the king of comedy with such releases as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.  Recently, though, he's fallen upon hard times - the same comedy format that was once deemed fresh and innovative is now old and unimaginative. 

Brad Silberling, the director of 2004's Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and the little seen 10 Items or Less, is behind the lens for this 101-minute feature.  It may be safe to say that his minimal experience hasn't helped in the making of this feature.

In his first starring role since last year's Step Brothers, Ferrell tackles a remake - Land of the Lost.  Based on the 1974 television series, Ferrell plays Dr. Rick Marshall, a scientist who may or may not have invented a device for time travel.  His research was ridiculed and scorned by the science community and he was dubbed a joke by the media during his appearance on the Today Show (Rick, after that incident, really doesn't like Matt Lauer).  Relegated to teaching grade-schoolers, his thirst for discovery is renewed when Holly Cantrell (Anna Friel, ABC's Pushing Daisies), a scientist ostracized for believing in Marshall's research, shows up and presents to him an odd artifact during an excavation.  The artifact is small and conclusive proof that time travel may be possible so Rick unveils his time machine and the two test it out - with incredible results.  Rick, along with Holly and a second-rate tour guide named Will Stanton (Danny McBride, Pineapple Express), are transported to a world full of wonder and danger.  It's a world full of dinosaurs, volcanoes, aliens and oversized lobsters - it's the land of the lost.

Rick and Holly document as much as they can so that they can present their findings when they return home.  But unfortunately the device is nowhere to be found, so the three trek across this strange land in order to find it.  Along the way they meet and "befriend" a local, a primate named Chaka (Jorma Taccone), and the four, in addition to finding Rick's invention, now have to save themselves and mankind from the Sleestacks, a familiar alien race first introduced in the television series.  And then there's a small score Rick has to settle with a very ornery Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Sid and Marty Krofft, the creators of the television series, also served as producers of this film, but I don't think they envisioned a final product this poor.  Lost is unfunny, uncreative, and simply senseless.  It's tough to see such a great comedic talent like Ferrell put forth such a lackluster effort.  I'm unsure as to whether it's the film's writing (Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicolas served as writers) or if it's Ferrell himself, but this is the least funny that he's been since he's made the leap to the big screen.  It's gotten to a point where McBride, a funny talent in his own right, is funnier than him in this film.  No offense to McBride, his star is definitely rising, but he is not as funny as Ferrell. 

Fans of Ferrell will no doubt be disappointed with this vehicle.  Ferrell's comedy is a tad edgy and rough and to place him in a more family-friendly endeavor clearly limits his incredible talent.  On the flip side, though, a great funnyman should be able to adjust his comedy for any audience, as fellow SNL alums Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler and Mike Meyers have been able to do before him.  Hopefully with the recently announced plans for an Anchorman sequel Ferrell hit his stride again, shining brightly at the top of the comedy world where he once reigned.  Until then, fans will have to scour their DVD collection in search of his funnier moments.

1.5 Stars out of Four