Perhaps the worst to be said about the new Will Ferrell comedy, “Land of the Lost,” is that it lives down to the source material.
Remember that kitschy ’70s show, the one where Marshall, Will and Holly got transported to a strange land with claymation-style dinosaurs and men in rubber suits called Sleestaks?
Well, the new “Lost” may have glossier effects, a publicity blitz of epic proportions and the lovely Anna Friel, but it’s hardly more entertaining than the TV original.
Ferrell plays Dr. Rick Marshall, a disgraced scientist who melts down during an amusing interview with “Today’s” Matt Lauer in the opening sequence.
Three years later, Marshall mistakenly triggers one of his own inventions to send him, a buffoonish tour guide (Danny McBride) and a comely researcher (Anna Friel) to another place in time.
The trio now must deal with a grumpy T. Rex, a tribe of lizard-like beasties and third-rate ad libbing. It’s the latter which proves their undoing.
Ferrell plays another variation on his haughty persona, a man-child who thinks he’s brilliant but barely can conceal his deep insecurities. If he hadn’t played this character before we’d have nothing to go on here, since characterization, storytellng and continuity are in short supply.
The film plays lip service to fans of the old show – look, the characters are named Marshall, Will and Holly! And a cute banjo sequence ties in to the show’s musical interludes. But wouldn’t it have been funnier if the show painstakingly recreated the old dinosaur effects rather than ape what we saw in “Jurassic Park?”
“Lost” might have been a passable lark for the youngsters, but the film keeps heaping on the sexual and scatalogical jokes to spoil that option. Dinosaur urine and a caveman who feels up Friel’s character are just two reasons why parents should think twice about letting “Lost” babysit their young ones.
“Land of the Lost” represents the ultimate crash and burn synergy. Take a hot comic actor, combine him with a “name” property, market it to death and you end up with a summer dud.
(Photo: Danny McBride, Will Ferrell and Anna Friel are surrounded by Sleestaks in “Land of the Lost.”)
Related posts:
on 
on 
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
“‘Lost’ might have been a passable lark for the youngsters, but the film keeps heaping on the sexual and scatalogical jokes to spoil that option.”
Yeah, I was afraid this might be the case, especially with “Matt Lauer can SUCK IT” featured prominently in the trailer. My 7-year-old is reasonably well-mannered, but I could just hear him telling somebody — a teacher, his mom — to “suck it,” and that would be that. So, I think we’ll pass. Thanks for the confirmation.
Oh, by the way Christian, I don’t suppose after last weekend’s discussion you might have noticed the soundtrack when you screened the movie? Did we plant a seed? If so, what did you think?
My kid’s only 5 months old and my parental radar is already up … it’ll only get more frustrating when I see movies like this.
Yeah, I neglected to mention it here but the music actually impressed me … thunderous at times, but in a comically supportive way.
I’m a work in progress on the soundtrack front …
Well, Armond “The Bizarro Critic” White gave it a glowing review, so…I’ll be avoiding this one like the plague.
I need to check in to his body of work, EDS. From a rough glance at his reviews he seems to disagree with the critical consensus on everything. Embracing “Lost” to buck the trend is just silly.
Is Ferrell really considered a hot comic anymore? What was his last hit, the racing movie? He’s a one trick pony whose trick get’s old real fast.
Being a huge fan of animation, I have to take issue with the “claymation style dinosaurs” line.
If you’ll allow me to be a little anal here, the original animation for the show was spectacular, especially considering it was a weekly series and there were no computers involved. Large, lush minature sets were built and the models used weren’t clay.
I’ll stop throwing my animation tantrum now:)
Will Ferrell goes after the hard targets only a brave, principled comedian would dare target: NASCAR, ice skaters, George W. Bush, anchormen from the 1970’s. What a visionary.
Hey, those 1970’s anchormen (too many of whom who still exist in some form on today’s news programs, cable in particular) had it coming!
James’ point remains strong, RonBurg, but I didn’t have too much sympathy for the anchors Ferrell mocked.