Land of The Lost

Bring a road map with you to “Land of the Lost,” because the title certainly does not deceive. In “Land of the Lost,” we meet Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell), who, along with companions Holly (Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies), and Will (Danny McBride, Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder) is thrown through the space-time continuum. They arrive in an alternate universe and must find a way back home- or be victim to a vindictive t-rex and an army of sleestaks (very slow-moving reptile creatures) on a mission to get Marshall’s new invention, the tachyon meter, which is kind of like a time-machine.

And it is from this point that we follow the trio down a winding path of confusion that Ferrell can’t even save them from. Much of the movie relies on gross physical comedy (a giant mosquito bites Marshall and then gets squished everywhere when he falls over) for laughs, along with some other things involving a certain dinosaur’s various body systems.

We also meet Holly, another companion of Marshall, who fills the love-interest role. She’s the self-assertive and feisty sidekick- oh, and she’s knowledgeable too- she went to Oxford but dropped out to follow Marshall’s theories.

Then there’s Will, the ‘slacker-friend,’ who finally has found a place where he belongs with their ape-man guide, Chaka. He provides a lot of the comedy- when there is some that’s worth a laugh.

There are some other comedic moments in the movie, too, with a few sparse displays of classic Will Ferrell comedy. Played by Ferrell, Dr. Marshall is really just a self-centered big kid, but most of the time his childish antics just fall short or get overwhelmed by the surrounding scene. This is a good example of someone who just can’t handle the heat of a summer blockbuster. Or maybe he just doesn’t fit.

There are also a lot of hits on pop culture. For instance, worried about the food supply and inspired by Bobby Flay, Marshall tells the camera he set up that if worst came to worst, there could be ways to make Chaka into a delicious meal with “roasted red peppers and a dash of cumin.”

Small talk between Dr. Marshall and Will can be funny at times too- and there’s a few shots at comedy in some one liners- that are pretty much one of the few places where you can get a laugh. Two words, said by Marshall: “Oh, crapballs!”

So if, as a moviegoer, that is your kind of comedy, then you may like this movie. Maybe. But if you’re into something a little more sophisticated, or maybe just a little less dumb, then please avoid this movie. Yes, there are a few good moments for Ferrell, but other than that, there’s not much. And while Dr. Marshall said that “there’s always a way out,” of “Land of the Lost,” I really beg to differ.

Cast:

Will Ferrell	...	Dr. Rick Marshall
Anna Friel	...	Holly Cantrell
Danny McBride	...	Will Stanton
Jorma Taccone	...	Cha-Ka
John Boylan	...	Enik
Matt Lauer	...	Himself
Bobb'e J. Thompson	...	Tar Pits Kid #1
Sierra McCormick	...	Tar Pits Kid #2
Shannon Lemke	...	Tar Pits Kid #3
Stevie Wash Jr.	...	Tar Pits Kid #4 (as Steven Wash Jr.)
Brian Huskey	...	Teacher
Kevin Buitrago	...	Teenager #1
Noah Crawford	...	Teenager #2
Jon Kent Ethridge	...	Teenager #3
Logan Manus	...	Teenager #4