Land of the Lost [HD]

"Captain Kirk's nipples!"
"Captain Kirk's nipples!"

...and if that quote didn't tell you the new big budget big screen "Land of the Lost" film isn't exactly directed at the Saturday morning TV crowd... I fondly recall spending those mornings in the 70's with Will, Holly, Dr. Marshall and the Sleestak, so when I heard Will Ferrell would be taking the lead I was content in the knowledge that the campiness of the original Sid and Marty Kroft show would be preserved. As fate would have it this preservation extends even to the cheesy theme song which Ferrell nearly performs in one scene...this theme song pretty much covers the series and movie's premise...the aforementioned characters, on a "less than" routine expedition via an earthquake and a tachyon gadget (this part is new) end up in a parallel space they call the "Land of the Lost" complete with prehistoric critters and lizardmen. Unlike the series they need to find Dr. Marshall's misplaced gadget in order to get home, this leads to lots of mishaps...

Open your mind -- It's funny!
We watched this movie on our DVR, kept it around, watched it again, and then again, and then again. By the third time, we found it to be really funny and my family still quotes the movie all the time. It's not 'Black Swan' but life's too short to ignore this movie. I only wish they'd do an 'Extras' version but that's probably not going to happen.

Lightweight, goofy fun
I'd read plenty of negative reviews of the film before deciding to give it a look.

What the film lacks in cohesiveness it makes up for goofiness. It is most definitely a vehicle for letting Will Farrell run wild and free. It wasn't a script in search of a star so much as it is a familiar premise functioning as a playground for a comedic improv actor.

I wouldn't say it is "based on" the classic Saturday morning series so much as "inspired by" it.

Nevertheless, the cast seem to have fun in this lighgweight romp and it makes for a reasonably funny way to pass 90 minutes.

I don't know if I'd buy it for my home video library but I certainly wouldn't object to watching it again from time to time.

I didn't get to listen to the Director Commentary track before I returned the rental disc, but I've listened to others by this director and he tells interesting stores.

And the cameo by Matt Lauer is worth the price of admission!

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