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"YEAR ONE" (2009) (Jack Black, Michael Cera) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Heavy Extreme Minor Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate Minor Minor None Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme Minor Mild Moderate Heavy QUICK TAKE: Comedy: A clownish hunter and a nerdy gatherer set out on a Neolithic road trip that results in encounters with various Biblical figures. PLOT: It's year one in the Neolithic era and Zed (JACK BLACK) is a clownish hunter whose behavior doesn't sit well in the eyes of clan leader Marlak (MATTHEW WILLIG). But Zed's more interested in Maya (JUNE DIANE RAPHAEL), and tries to encourage his nerdy gatherer friend Oh (MICHAEL CERA) to put the moves on Eema (JUNO TEMPLE). Before any of that comes to fruition, however, Zed breaks the rules and eats some fruit from the Forbidden Tree and thus is exiled from the clan. With him accidentally burning down Oh's hut on his way out, the two end up out on their own, traveling the countryside, woods and deserts encountering various Biblical figures. Among them are quarreling brothers Cain (DAVID CROSS) and Abel (PAUL RUDD), as well as Abraham (HANK AZARIA) who's about to sacrifice his son Isaac (CHRISTOPHER MINTZ-PLASSE), but is interrupted long enough to come up with the idea of circumcision. When Maya and Eema, along with Marlak and others, are captured by Roman slave traders, including Sargon (VINNIE JONES), Zed and Oh set off a rescue mission of sorts, eventually leading to Sodom where they encounter the likes of the High Priest (OLIVER PLATT) and Princess Inanna (OLIVIA WILDE) who become interested in the now nomadic men for different reasons. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of anyone in the cast or what looks like it will be a goofy comedy might be interested. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For crude and sexual content throughout, brief strong language and comic violence. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JACK BLACK plays a Neolithic hunter who's something of the tribe clown who gets kicked out of the clan for eating some forbidden fruit. He wants to have sex with Maya and encourages Oh to do the same with Eema, and thus accompanies his friend on a rescue mission of sorts to save the two women after they're enslaved. He uses profanity, briefly smokes, becomes even more full of himself, and participates in all sorts of exaggerated behavior and facial expressions that might be enticing to imitate. MICHAEL CERA plays his nerdy and more grounded gatherer friend who becomes his unlikely "road trip" travel-mate. He wants to and finally does have sex with Eema, all while dealing with the various people and predicaments they encounter. He uses profanity. JUNO TEMPLE plays a young woman in his tribe with whom Oh wants to sleep, and she finally allows that to happen at the end of film after a brief stint as a slave. JUNE DIANE RAPHAEL plays the clan woman that Zed is interested in, and she also becomes a slave. DAVID CROSS plays one of Adam & Eve's sons who murders his brother and then tries to pass that guilt off to others. He also alternates between helping and hindering Zed and Oh at various points in the film. PAUL RUDD plays his brother with whom he quarrels and then murders. HANK AZARIA plays the progenitor of the Hebrew people who nearly sacrifices his son, states that Sodom and its twin city will be destroyed, and comes up with the idea of circumcision. CHRISTOPHER MINTZ-PLASSE plays his son who's spared, and then secretly accompanies Zed and Oh into Sodom, a place he apparently knows intimately. VINNIE JONES plays a brutal Roman centurion and slave gatherer who enslaves various characters, including Zed and Oh. OLIVER PLATT plays the High Priest in Sodom whose job is at risk from a competitor, but that doesn't stop him from enjoying a full body oil massage coerced out of Oh. OLIVIA WILDE plays a princess who takes a liking to Zed and his unorthodox ways. MATTHEW WILLIG plays Zed and Oh's muscle-bound clan leader who doesn't like Zed or later being captured and enslaved. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue related to various topics is present, two young people lose their virginity off-screen, an orgy with cavorting is present, but no actual sex is seen, and other sexually related humor (straight and gay) is present. Violence consists of some action and comedy-based battles and fighting, other hitting, sacrifices, murder and some slapstick style material. While mostly blood free, a decapitated head is briefly seen. Various instances of crude and gross-out humor are also present, as is behavior that might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Bad attitudes are present, there's some tobacco and alcohol content (including brief intoxication), as well as some drug-related comments, and some comedy-based tense family material occurs. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Cain mentions a place that has what sounded like some "killer hemp." Abraham talks of the occurrence of drinking in Sodom. Isaac mentions wine and smoking herbs in Sodom. We see drinking at an orgy. After being chosen as the next rain-making sacrifice, Princess Inanna tells Maya to drink something, adding that she won't feel a thing. Maya likes it so much that she licks the rim, and later appears intoxicated/drugged from that. BLOOD/GORE Most of the following is played for intended comedy. We see men in the clan hunting a boar, but an arrow thrown by Zed lands in the back shoulder of another man (there might be a little blood on the blade when the spear is pulled out). Oh mentions something about "bird-sh*t" and the berries he's collecting. Marlak gives Maya an offering of a severed and slightly bloody boar's head. Zed complains about those in his clan who "take a crap" behind his hut (all as we see a man do just that, but without any sight or sound of that bodily function). When Oh says Zed burned down his hut, Zed says it's just a pile of sticks and dung, with Oh then saying that's what Zed is. We see claw marks on Oh's legs from an unseen cougar attack, with Zed saying he should put some maggots on those. Seeing a trail from humans having passed by, Zed spots what he thinks his human excrement, and picks up some. He examines that, including manipulating it with his fingers, licking it with his tongue, and then taking a bite to taste it (after which he declares it's bear poop). Abel has a little blood on his head from where his brother bashed him with a large rock. Zed and Oh appear queasy after their first cart ride, and both vomit off the side of that (after Oh says he's going to "yak"). As a man lies behind Oh in bed in the spoons position, we hear all sorts of farting from the man, including him saying one came with a surprise, while another sounds "wetter" than the others. A lighting bolt suddenly hits Cain in the forehead, seemingly killing him. Moments later, however, he sits upright, albeit with a large mark on his forehead. We see a head hit the ground when a person is decapitated. Oh says he thinks he has some sand up his "ass," with Zed saying he'll check once they get to Sodom (a "sodomy" joke). The High Priest drops a large glop of animal intestines on a flat surface (to be used for prognosticating). He mentions the pulverized rectum, the enormous genitals, and the sheep "balls." It's mentioned that Princess Inanna has cramps. Zed and Oh are chained in a dungeon, with the latter upside down. Oh indicates he has to pee, but can no longer hold it, and we see urine run down his body and arms, and then all across his face, with Zed telling him to close his mouth while also saying he's peeing on his face as well, on the inside. Later, Zed comments on Oh's hair looking nice, and Oh mentions he peed on it. There's some crude humor during the end credit outtakes, including some farting, while Zed sticks his tongue up Maya's nose (demonstrating open mouth kissing using one's tongue). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Most of the following is played for intended comedy. Some viewers might not like the portrayal of various Biblical characters, or Oh suggesting that there might not be a God. Despite knowing the rules and hearing warnings from Oh, Zed eats some forbidden fruit. Cain kills his brother and then lies about knowing what happened, including calling his sister a "lying bitch" for saying she saw him with Abel in the field, and wishing his father was dead like Abel. We see that Maya, Eema, Marlak and others have been enslaved. Abusing his power as a soldier/guard, Cain steals and/or coerces stuff from market vendors. A virgin is dropped into a large fire as a sacrifice, but we don't see the impact or death. The king decides he wants to sacrifice his stepdaughter, Princess Inanna. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" may be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material, but probably no one else. For those afraid of snakes (despite the scene being played for comedy), Oh is nervous when he realizes a large boa is wrapping around his feet. Moments later, we see it wrapping around his upper body and neck (but he's okay). GUNS/WEAPONS Arrows/Spears/Swords/Stone Daggers/Knives/Whip: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others. See "Violence" for details. Zed, Cain and other guards draw their swords during a line-up, but Oh mentions he never received one. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "You f*cked the pooch on this one," "Bird-sh*t," "Oh sh*t," "Total bullsh*t artist," "Holy sh*t," "Balls," "Nut sack," "I want you to enter the holy of holies," "Let's cut some foreskin," "All of my brain blood was in my boner," "I've multiplied with sheep," "So long, suckers," "Let go of his t*tty," "Take a crap," "More intelligenter," "Idiots," "You're a pile of sticks and dung," "Suck," "You're a suckle up," "Is he a total suck or what?" "Morons," "Numbskull," "I'm gonna yak," "Is a lying bitch," "Eat my dust," "Damn you," "What the hell is going on out here?" "Hold a grudge much?" "Give me a break," "You stupid bastards," "You bronze bitchlet," "Shut up," "I'm peeing on my face too, on the inside" and "It was totally not a gay thing." Zed starts sashaying and moving his hips about for Maya while saying no woman can say no to that display. The fighting, action and other stunts might be enticing for some kids to imitate, which also holds true for Zed's mannerisms, facial expressions and other behavior. Knowing Zed and Oh are watching her, a young woman suggestively peels a banana, licks the tip, and then sucks on it. In response, Zed suggestively manipulates a piece of meat on a skewer, including flicking his tongue on it. Zed makes exaggerated musical notes/sounds with his mouth. Marlak spits at Zed's feet. During the end credits outtakes, Zed shows Maya that he's come up with a new way of kissing, open-mouthed, but without any tongue. We then see a later related scene where he's introduced the tongue, but does so up one of her nostrils. JUMP SCENES A lighting bolt suddenly hits Cain in the forehead, seemingly killing him. Moments later, however, he sits upright, albeit with a large mark on his forehead. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A little bit of action-oriented music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word, 8 "s" words, 6 slang terms for sex ("lay"), 1 slang term using male genitals ("d*ck"), 1 for breasts ("t*tty"), 2 asses (used with "hole"), 2 damns, 1 crap, 1 hell and 1 use of "God." SEX/NUDITY Most of the following is played for intended comedy. Zed starts sashaying and moving his hips about for Maya while saying no woman can say no to that display. Maya looks up Marlak's loincloth (we don't see anything) when he stands with one legged propped up, thus affording her that view. About Eema, Oh says he wants to lay with her so badly. Zed acknowledges that feeling, but Oh says it's Zed's sister and that would be just like laying with his mother, which Zed then says was a big mistake. Oh then says something about living with his parents and not wanting to keep them up all night with his raucous lovemaking. During this conversation, we see some quick views of Eema across the way, doing things that the film makes look sexual, such as stroking two spears, one in each hand. At various points in the film, men are seen shirtless or with open attire up top, revealing their bare chests. Zed makes another sexual use of "lay" regarding Maya. There's some simulated rear entry sex positioning and movement during a ritualized dance. Zed tells Oh the latter could be his right-hand man, but Oh says no thanks as he's seen what Zed does with his right hand. Zed holds up some food on a stick and jokingly asks Oh what it looks like (the implication being of female genitals). Adam offers his daughter to Zed to have sex ("You may lay with my daughter") as she's supposed to be fruitful and multiply. Oh asks about himself, and Adam offers him a son, and that young man says he's multiplied with sheep. We then see Zed seated with that young woman, and he comments on "loincloth rising," but she says she likes girls, clarifying that for him that she likes to have sex with other women. He then says he's sorry that he wasn't listening as "All of my brain blood was in my boner." Elsewhere, we see the other brother behind Oh in bed in the spoons position, but nothing sexual occurs. Pretending to be a buyer of slaves, Oh gropes Eema's clothed chest. Oh says he thinks he has some sand up his "ass," with Zed saying he'll check once they get to Sodom (a "sodomy" joke). Abraham complains about Sodom and Gomorrah being filled with "whores" and there's related talk about such women. Feigning wanting to avoid the one from the pending answer, Oh asks which one has the most of them. Abraham announces that he's going to circumcise his own penis, and then that of Zed, Oh and another man. He then describes to them what that entails (including talk of cutting off excess foreskin) and adds that it will be a sleek look that will catch on with others. The word "d*ck" is also used during this, and we hear screaming from the distance after Zed and Oh leave. Oh then questions the act, asking what if the tip of the penis is your favorite part, with Zed jokingly replying that the tip is Oh's only part. Isaac says that Zed and Oh have had a "boner" for Sodom ever since his father told them about the place. After telling them to turn around, Sargon prepares to violate Zed and Oh (both still clothed) with a large, studded club he's holding, but Cain interrupts that. Knowing Zed and Oh are watching her, a young woman suggestively peels a banana, licks the tip, and then sucks on it. In response, Zed suggestively manipulates a piece of meat on a skewer, including flicking his tongue on it. The High Priest drops a large glop of animal intestines on a flat surface (to be used for prognosticating). He mentions the pulverized rectum, the enormous genitals, and the sheep "balls." Cain states that the best part of Sodom is the sodomy. The High Priest goes to select a female virgin for a sacrifice, but notes that one candidate can't possibly be a virgin, saying "Back to the whorehouse with you." A eunuch is introduced and he indicates that he still carries his severed testicles with him in a little pouch. Later, when someone must be chosen to stone Zed and Oh, that man throws one of his testicles at them. We see sexual cavorting at a large orgy, with groping, kissing and other close contact, such as a woman's leg up alongside a man, while various women are somewhat scantly clad (lots of bare midriffs). During this, Zed gropes the barely covered chest of what he thinks is a statue, but is really a live woman posing as that (she slaps him), while Oh is seen shirtless and fully painted in gold doing the same. Separately, Sargon tries to look up Eema's dress (she's enslaved), but she purposefully drops her tray on him to stop that. Zed then makes a "fisting" gesture regarding Sargon and what he seemingly wanted to do to him and Oh earlier in the film. At that orgy, the High Priest wants Oh to rub oil all over his body, starting on his extremely hairy chest, and Oh reluctantly complies, asking if he should use his hand. The High Priest replies, "No, your nut sack," but then says yes, to use his hand. During that, the High Priest uses some innuendo about his reaction. Later, Oh shows he has the High Priest's hair stuck on his palms, with Zed asking if that's from his chest, and Oh replies not all of it. Princess Inanna tells Zed she wants him to "enter the holy of holies," and he enthusiastically repeats something similar (thinking she means sex with her), but she then clarifies what she means (entering a forbidden chamber). Zed finds Oh already in there, and the latter spots two small statuettes. One shows as short, buxom woman, while the other is a male figure with an erect penis. Oh accidentally breaks that off in his hand, and then tells others outside the chamber that if they find a penis, it was already that way. During that, Zed asks the gods for the power to be able to see through women's clothing. Oh states that he's a virgin by choice, with Zed jokingly replying, "Not your choice." Abraham arrives to a battle and says, "Let's cut some foreskin!" About earlier being seen rubbing oil on the High Priest, Oh tells Eema, "It was totally not a gay thing." Oh and Eema kiss, and she wants to have sex, with him asking if he should take off his under cloth. We later see them walk out, happy, and he states she's no longer a virgin and she says the same of him. He then tells Sargon that he just had sex with Eema, explaining that he needed to tell someone. Isaac tries coming on to Eema, saying they cut off a little (of his penis from a circumcision) but that there's more where that came from. During the end credits outtakes, there's additional circumcision related talk, and Zed shows Maya that he's come up with a new way of kissing, open-mouthed, but without any tongue. We then see a later related scene where he's introduced the tongue, but does so up one of her nostrils. SMOKING Zed briefly smokes a primitive looking pipe. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Most of the following is played for intended comedy. We hear that Maya's parents were killed by a pack of wild dogs in the past (played for laughs). Cain and Abel quarrel, with Cain pushing his brother back. The two then struggle, with Cain punching Abel several times before striking him on the head with a large rock. He then does this several more times, pausing when he thinks he's done killing Abel, before resuming again. Abraham raises a large knife to sacrifice his son, but Zed and Oh interrupt that. Abraham then drops his knife and it accidentally lands in his own foot (we don't see the impact). The king decides he wants to sacrifice his stepdaughter, Princess Inanna. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Life in the Neolithic era. The portrayal of the various Biblical characters seen in the film. The film's skewering look at religious beliefs and superstitions of old. Human sacrifice. Eunuchs. VIOLENCE Most of the following is played for intended comedy. We see men in the clan hunting a boar, but an arrow thrown by Zed lands in the back shoulder of another man (there might be a little blood on the blade when the spear is pulled out). Marlak grabs Zed around the head and then he and another man carry him away. Following Zed's misguided advice, Oh hits Eema over the head with a club as they dance, prompting her to hit him several times with the same. Marlak uses his spear to flip Zed to the ground. Zed accidentally sets a hut on fire while leaving the clan following his banishment. Marlak prepares to kill Zed who's on the ground, but Oh hits Marlak over the head, knocking him out. Zed and Oh encounter a cougar in a tree and freeze. After a few moments, Zed takes off running, and we see the cougar jump down toward Oh, but don't see any contact. Later, however, we see him with claw marks on his legs. To hunt for food, Zed fires an arrow at a large ox, but it bounces off due to no arrowhead. He then races out and jumps on the ox with a stone dagger, but the ox bucks him off and he lands hard on the ground. Cain and Abel quarrel, with Cain pushing his brother back. The two then struggle, with Cain punching Abel several times before striking him on the head with a large rock. He then does this several more times, pausing when he thinks he's done killing Abel, before resuming again and finally succeeding. A lighting bolt suddenly hits Cain in the forehead, seemingly killing him. Moments later, however, he sits upright, albeit with a large mark on his forehead. While chained as a slave, Marlak knocks and tosses aside various guards. Romans attack slave traders, with an arrow landing in one's back, while another is decapitated (we see the head hit the ground). Marlak also hits some, but is captured in a net. Abraham raises a large knife to sacrifice his son, but Zed and Oh interrupt that. Abraham then drops his knife and it accidentally lands in his own foot (we don't see the impact). Guards push Zed and Oh against a door, and then throw them down. Moments later, a guard twice slaps Zed, followed by squeezing/twisting Oh's clothed nipple. Sargon then tells both clothed men to turn around and he prepares a large, studded club he's going to use on them (presumably meant anally), but Cain interrupts that. A guard strikes a miscellaneous person. When Zed doesn't bow down before Princess Inanna, a guard knocks him down to the ground. A virgin is dropped into a large fire as a sacrifice, but we don't see the impact or death. A woman slaps Zed after her gropes her chest, thinking she's a statue. At a public stoning, a child is chosen to do the deed for Zed and Oh, and he throws several stones in a row that hit Oh on the head. A guard repeatedly whips Zed, followed by one such strike on Oh. Marlak throws a guard off a tower. Zed then leaps off the tower on a rope, but a different one than Marlak is holding. He lands hard on a cart on some scaffolding, and then rides down a ramp on that, holding onto a rope on the edge as the cart crashes onto the ground below. That eventually causes the scaffolding to fall down onto at least one guard. Zed goes to kick the High Priest who's holding Maya, but accidentally kicks her instead. A large scale battle then breaks out, with Zed hitting and knocking others about. During this, Marlak head-butts Cain, and Oh throws a rock that accidentally hits Zed in the head. That's followed by Sargon striking Zed many times, including back-handing and kicking him. He appears ready to kill him, but Oh hits Sargon over the head, followed by Zed hitting Sargon many times. Oil is then thrown on the High Priest who falls backwards into the sacrificial fire (we don't see the impact or death). During the end credits outtakes, Zed thrashes about an obviously fake boa constrictor. Reviewed June 16, 2009 / Posted June 19, 2009

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