Seen on: June 5, 2009

The players: Director: Brad Silberling, Writers: Chris Henchy, Dennis McNicholas, Cast: Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny R. McBride, Jorma Taccone

Facts of interest: Based on the TV series from the '70s.

The plot: Will Ferrell stars as a scientist who travels to a parallel dimension inhabited by hostile creatures.

Our thoughts: To be honest, I wish I’d never entered the “Land of the Lost.” It’s a boring place full of bad jokes and lame characters, and it pretty much lacks all the necessary ingredients for an exciting, adventurous comedy. In other words, this movie is a mess of epic proportions, and one that should never have found its way into theaters.

Will Ferrell stars as Dr. Rick Marshall, an egocentric scientist who is sucked into a time warp and lands in the middle of a parallel dimension inhabited by all sorts of awkward creatures. Along with research scientist Holly (Anna Friel) and redneck survivalist Will (Danny McBride), Marshall heads out to explore the new land and then find a way back home.

In a nutshell, “Land of the Lost” is one of the most dreadful films I’ve seen so far this year. Neither funny nor in any way imaginative, Brad Silberling’s big-screen adaptation of the 1970s television series is a torturous experience that tries to trigger big laughs but completely fails to do so.

The plot is as dry as it can be, with Ferrell spending most of the film running away from a gigantic T-Rex. And when he’s not doing that, he’s either sucking on an exotic fruit that gets him high or struggling to deliver a decent joke. It sounds pathetic, really, but that’s exactly what you’re in for in “Land of the Lost.”

Other than that, the main story line hardly surprises. Marshall’s joy about discovering this new land quickly fades, and before you know it, he and his companions spend the rest of the film trying to get home. Along the way they also encounter a monkey boy and clash with an army of evil reptiles, but none of these episodes are in any way intriguing.

Ferrell has done some good and some bad stuff in recent years, and while I mildly enjoyed his previous two flicks “Semi-Pro” and “Step Brothers,” I admit I really disliked him in the role of Rick Marshall. I understand he can only do so much with a lame script full of disastrous gags, but even his comedic timing is not the best this time around.

Danny McBride gets to deliver a couple of amusing lines, but his character too is empty and rather annoying in the end. And as far as Anna Friel is concerned, I still don’t get why she’s even in this thing. She’s clearly got potential, but her character doesn’t contribute anything to the attempted comedic aspect of the film.

Freaky quote: "Matt Lauer can suck it!" – Will Ferrell

The final word: If you’re on the lookout for some entertainment at the movies this weekend, don’t go to the “Land of the Lost.” It’s a tiring trip lacking big adventure and decent humor… unless you get a kick out of watching Will Ferrell runs from a dinosaur and show off his hairy chest.

Article by Franck Tabouring