Quartile rating: 5/10 · 1 rating
When a couple of lazy hunter-gatherers are banished from their primitive village, they set off on an epic journey through the ancient world.
Year One is a broadly comedic romp through ancient history that fails to capitalize on its promising premise. The plot meanders episodically without much narrative momentum, stringing together loosely connected biblical and historical parody sketches rather than a cohesive story. The cast—including Jack Black and Michael Cera—relies on their familiar comedic personas without much stretching, and the chemistry feels inconsistent. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable for the genre. The film treads well-worn Mel Brooks-style historical comedy territory without the wit or distinctiveness to stand out, feeling derivative rather than inventive. The ending is especially weak, resolving threads hastily with little payoff or comedic punch.