MovieChat Forums > Year One (2009) Discussion > Awful, awful film

Awful, awful film

posted 13 years ago by Foejevs
24 replies | jump to latest

So basically it was Jack Black played by Jack Black and Michael Cera Played my Michael Cera bumbling through the ancient world getting up to "zany hijinks" all for a girl.

The 'religious satire' was trite, tired and awful. It's nasty with all the gay and misoginistic jokes flund about. Jack Black was intolerable as his acting was filled with annoying winks and nods to the head to the audience as if they are saying "huurrr look at us we are making fun on these crazy religious guys in ancient times, AREN'T WE FUNNY?!?!".

Michael Cera could've been replaced with a card board cut out and it wouldn't of made a different. What a terrible, terrible actor. He is just so lucky that he has been with directors and screenwriters who know what they are doing and has been in Juno and Scott Pilgrim Versus The World.

All in all, 2 out of 10. It made me smile slightly in some places and it had Olivia Wilde.

[–] viezure2001 13 years ago

You're just thinking that you're smarter than you actually are, that's why you didn't enjoyed the film.

[–] blackheart981 13 years ago

You know who runs Hollywood right? I can tell you they ain't Christians.

[–] Enlightened_Lanterns 13 years ago

Christians pretty much did that to themselves though.

The moment Christians started using God as a comfort pillow/war starter is when all things shot to hell.

Corruption within the church.

God. religion. shouldnt be used as a shield, because a shield is a form of weapon.
And Faith shouldn't be scared into us.
Attention: you have just been hadoukened

[–] Ryu_Darkwood 13 years ago

Damn scientologists!

[–] Citation_Needed 9 years ago

What's your point? This is all jewish mythology anyway.

[–] shibenb 13 years ago

this movie doesn't need this much scrutiny actually since its one of those "movies which dont take themselves seriously"

I thought the movie was quite fun, I actually watched it two times because idiots have rated it 5 and I did not pay any attention first time. And it felt like a good movie and I had to see it again, this time properly.

Supremely under-rated. this was a typical tropic thunder or hot rod or dude wheres my car kinda movie. where did the humor of people go?

[–] Foejevs 13 years ago

I loved Tropic Thunder actually and i believe its one of the few comedy films which can stand up to multiple viewings (Also see The Hangover) but this pile of w_ank was so unfunny, I watched with my parents and my older brother and the room was dead silent throughout.

[–] juxtapose70 13 years ago

I loved it! I laughed so hard I cried. But then, I know the Tanakh, Bible and it's terrible triplet, the Qur'an. And this movie isn't so much making fun of religion as it is pointing out just how stupid it really is. Only it uses satire to make the point. If you didn't get it, it's because you don't know anything about religion - especially the horrific Bible.

Honestly, would we really come up with circumcision today as a good idea from God? Because the Bible really does! Just like the story of Abraham sacrificing his son for God who was only "testing" him. What kind of nonsense is this? An all - knowing God who has to "test" people as if he doesn't know the answer to begin with? hahahaha

It shows perfectly and hilariously how primitive and backward religious dogmas are. Loved it!

[–] Foejevs 13 years ago

I did see how it was making fun of religion because I know about the story of Abraham and the chopping of someone's foreskin and I got the satire. It just wasn't very good satire, nor was it clever.

[–] Neil_Of_Cardiff 13 years ago

There are bad films and bad films, but this film was god damn awful as comedys go. I sat watching this trying to find 1 funny moment and I felt let down by Harold Ramis and the whole cast.

I came onto this board to make this comment because Bill Murray has serious reservations about making Ghostbusters III because of the Office Writers who royally screwed up on this movie, yet they have written the scipt for GB III.

Myself like Bill Murray hated this movie, how can anyone with there head screwed on straight for a comedy actually say this movie even deserves 1 star ?

Easily one of the worst comedys made between 2000 - 2010 and that is without exaggeration.

[–] filmmekker 13 years ago

I'm watching now on cable and am enjoying it. This board is hard on comedies that don't have serious elements.

Open the door for Mr. Muckle!!

[–] namaGemo 11 years ago

I think there are a lot of feelgood people who have issues dealing with their myth bring mocked. I think they laugh at how ridiculous their belief is, but then it conflicts with them still wanting to believe, so instead of accepting they only have faith in a myth, they pick on this movie instead.

[–] rleary1 13 years ago

Gotta Agree with the 'Awful' review. I like Harold Ramis (years ago) & Jack Black is funny in small doses, but the movie just isn't good. I watched it for free on Comedy Central. I wanted to stand up and leave the theater but realized I was home. Now I'm thinking of calling my cable company to 'pro-rate' my viewing and giving me back an hour and half of my life that I can't get back. For some reason I've never liked Michael Cera the guy from Juno. His wimpishness reminds me of Jesse Eisenberg altho I did love the movie Zombieland. Anyway, thumbs down...

You're damned if you do and damned if you don't ~ Bart Simpson

[–] Utpe 8 years ago

If I only had a time machine...

But, yes, this film is TERRIBLE! Not because of the religious jokes, but just due to the fact that it's NOT FUNNY!

I love Harold Ramis, and may he R.I.P., but this film just fell flat. The humor was atrocious. I'm starting to think that the older he became, the more terrible his films turned out to be.

BTW, somebody had suggested watching this at the time because they said it's about as close to a third Ghostbusters (1984) film that we were going to get.

I don't understand, this film is not anywhere near what a Ghostbusters movie should be! It was absolutely horrendous, and exactly the opposite of. And to think, Gene Stupnitsky was going to write the third one!

I'm actually kinda glad we didn't get another sequel. The Ghostbusters (2016) crap they churned out was an utter disappointment.

It's also time for Dan Aykroyd to also hang up his hat. He hasn't made anything great in a decade, and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998) is a prime example.

[–] Old_Painty_Cans_Ned 11 years ago

Actually circumcision is widely practiced today and is generally considered a good idea. It prevents a lot of infections from occurring in a very uncomfortable place. Also, many of the foods that were considered unclean by the ancient Hebrews are foods that a know to cause disease if not prepared properly. There actually were some practical reasons behind some of the seemingly arbitrary rules in the Bible. Not all of them, mind you, but some of them do actually make sense.

[–] soujiro707 13 years ago

Tropic Thunder is about five times better than the movies you are comparing it too.

[–] HilaryElizabeth9 13 years ago

Total and utter drek. I expect more out of Jack Black, who is truly capable of great humor, even when it's base. This film has been done better in every way in everything from History of the World to Holy Grail to Dogma. The above review is spot-on, and it's hard to believe the names that were in this film. Or maybe that were contracturally required to fulfill their commitment to this film after it was too late to back out. Yeesh.

[–] Dubz1300 13 years ago

michael cera is a better actor than you think (i used to think he was the same character every movie too)...until i saw youth in revolt..he owned that movie, and def. has talent..

[–] angloo 13 years ago

Both Cera and Black can do better (Cera in Arrested Development, playing himself or not, was very likeable).

I don't know who let me down more, the actors, the writers or director Ramis, ALL of whom have done better.
It may have been fun to make as a movie. Oliver Platt was quite good, as he is in all movies. (Both Cera and Platt are Canadian, by the by.)
But it was not fun to watch.

A 2 rating seems about right to me.

And I agree, Tropic Thunder was exponentially better than this.

[–] tsw453 13 years ago

Harold Ramis is usually great. Not sure what happened here. It was alright but not up to his standards.

[–] Ghadah 13 years ago

Can't agree more. BTW, I'm just talking about the title of your post :)

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] akiles47 11 years ago

god chilll

i laughed my ass off during this movie
But these movies aren't for everyone.

[–] chromegrass 8 years ago

agreed. This movie is poop.