Director: Brad Silberling
Starring: Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride
In Cinemas: 11 June 2009

Based on a 1970’s television series, Land of the Lost is funny-man Will Ferrell’s latest film about crackpot palaeontologist Dr Rick Marshall, whose wacky theories include using palaeontology to solve the world’s energy problems.

Exiled from the ranks of credible scientists, Dr Marshall is one day approached by Cambridge student Holly (Friel) who actually has faith in his Tachyon Amplifier.

Together, Dr Marhsall and Holly are motivated to test the contraption in the Devils Canyon Mystery Cave alongside their unwitting tour guide, Will (McBride). Shockingly, the invention works and the trio find themselves sucked into a space-time vortex and transported back to the time of dinosaurs and other alien creatures.

For a ridiculous film, it is surprising Land of the Lost works as well as it does. This may have something to do with Will Ferrell’s unique style of comedy, fearless about making a complete idiot of himself that is both engaging and dumbfounding.

Director Brad Silberling comes from an exhaustive background in television but is known for City of Angels and Moonlight Mile, two vastly different productions compared to this.

For the most part, Silberling handles his material with as much collectedness as he can. While not for everyone, Ferrell does have a unique affinity for comedy, even if it is just blind courage. He’s also supported well by the capable McBride and Friel who actually have more difficult parts, having to pretend to believe in all the nonsense Ferrell’s character comes out with.

Ultimately, the credit goes to the writers, Chris Hency and Denis McNicholas for either making a hilarious comedy or wasting 100 minutes of your life.

2 out of 5 stars.