cal3331

"Year One" is a bit of a disappointment. I usually like Jack Black movies, despite being more of a period-costumes-and-subtitles sort of movie-goer. However, this film is not even up to the standards of the typical JB fare. It's merely a bunch of scatological and sexual jokes, and lame ones at that, strung together in a completely implausible historical context. The storyline is weak, and the performances were merely adequate. Some laughs, to be sure, but I am glad I did not spend money on this. I think I spent more time pondering if Olivia Wilde's accent was genuine (I don't think so, since she was born in America) than I did laughing at the movie. If you are thinking of taking preteen children, I would strongly caution against that, but use your own judgment. I wish I had! I hope Jack Black's next film is more along the lines of "School of Rock" and utterly unlike this movie.

This film never fails to cheer me out of the holiday blues. In fact, I can think of no other film that so succinctly brings the true message of Christmas to the fore without being preachy or heavy-handed. Alan Cumming is simply adorable as luckless Bernard and Lenny Henry is utterly engaging as the titular genie. Henry's tour-de-force performance as the ancient genie discovering modern delights like Big Macs and action films is a wonder to behold. I am tearing up just thinking of the ending, but this truly is a heart-warming film; (though I don't like using that clichéd term, it really means something in this movie.) Rowan Atkinson may have a thankless role as the rat bastard art dealer, but he handles it perfectly. It was my passion for Atkinson's work that made me look at this film in the first place, and I am so grateful I taped it off A&E those many years ago. This is required viewing at Christmastime.