Land of the Lost
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Land of the Lost
The innocent, mildly cheesy Saturday morning TV show from the 1970s has morphed into an overblown, special-effects-laden, but plot-thin star vehicle for comedian Will Farrell, a washed-up scientist who claims that his invention, the "tachyon amplifier," is a time machine. With a beautiful academic (Anna Friel) and a sleazy sideshow operator (Danny McBride) at his side, he opens a "space time vortex" and lands in a prehistoric world filled with menacing creatures, reptilian aliens and furry Cro-Magnon natives. What ensues is a "Wizard of Oz" adventure as the trio seeks a way home. Unfortunately, what is being marketed as this summer's "family" film is far from one. Cartoonish violence and peril; rough language; sexual banter, innuendo and encounters; partial nudity; and drug use. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2009
Land of the Lostl (Full Review)
"Land of the Lost" (Universal), the innocent, mildly cheesy Saturday morning TV show from the 1970s, has morphed into an overblown, special-effects-laden, but plot-thin star vehicle for comedian Will Farrell.
In this new translation, Rick Marshall (Farrell) is a washed-up scientist who claims that his invention, the "tachyon amplifier," is a time machine. He sets out to prove his point and clear his name with disastrous consequences.
In one of many departures from the TV show that will raise the ire of baby boomers, "Land of the Lost" is no longer a family adventure. Holly (Anna Friel) is not Rick's young daughter but a comely Cambridge academic who sheds her trousers for hot pants as she pants for Rick. Will (Danny McBride) is a sleazy carnival operator who is always high on something (and it's not life).
This unlikely trio sets out on a raft through a water ride and, shazam! -- thanks to a "space time vortex" -- wind up in a prehistoric land populated by furry Cro-Magnons. Their guide, Chaka (Jorma Taccone), who was a sweet-natured sidekick in the TV show, has become a hyper-sexualized creep who can't keep his paws off Holly.
Throw in a tyrannosaurus rex, some gigantic mosquitoes, menacing reptile aliens called Sleestaks, and Bob's Big Boy (don't ask), and you have a traditional road movie, a kind of "Wizard of Oz" on steroids, with plenty of gross-out moments that will make adolescent boys very happy.
There isn't much of a story, but there are plenty of product placements, and Universal makes good use of the "Today" show from its partner NBC. In fact, the film feels like one extended NBC "Saturday Night Live" sketch that showcases Farrell's trademark humor, veering from deadpan straight man to wild-and-crazy guy.
Unfortunately, for what is being marketed as this summer's "family" film, "Land of the Lost" is laden with sexual innuendo and encounters, with masturbation as a running joke and (if you can imagine) scenes of alien copulation. Drug use is glorified as the adventurers get high on native fauna.
The tachyon machine, which plays the soundtrack from "A Chorus Line" (go figure), sets up several gay-friendly jokes. The dialogue is peppered with rough language and non sequiturs, as when Farrell proclaims, "My love for you is greater than the love Jesus Christ had when dying on the cross."
Directed with a lot of crashes and noise by Brad Silberling, "Land of the Lost" was produced by its original creators, the legendary Sid and Marty Krofft. One wonders what they were thinking in endorsing not a homage to the series but a complete reboot -- and a shambles at that.
The film contains cartoonish violence and peril; rough language; sexual banter, innuendo and encounters; partial nudity; and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishop's Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic
merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating,
the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief
synopsis of the movie.
The classifications are as follows:
- A-I -- general patronage;
- A-II -- adults and adolescents;
- A-III -- adults;
- A-IV**
- L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
- O -- morally offensive.
** Discontinued classification. All archived movies that were originally in the A-IV category are now classified as L.