Duality of Year One is hit or miss
Karen Wissing
Issue date: 6/29/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Directed by Harold Ramis, Year One pokes fun at the orthodox view of Christianity. Zed, played by Black, lacks hunting and gathering skills, making him the black sheep of the village the film opens with. His sidekick Oh, played by Cera, successfully gathers for the village and consistently questions Zed's behavior.
After a series of unfortunate decisions, Zed becomes convinced he is the "chosen one" and embarks on a journey with Oh by his side to eventually, for lack of better words, save the day.
Through their journey, Zed and Oh are faced with sacrificed virgins, unjustified slavery and circumcision.
As the film progresses, Zed continues to convince himself he is the chosen one, but Oh begins asking deep philosophical questions. His questions reminded me of a young philosopher questioning the standards of the society around him.
Oh's character had seen virgins sacrificed to God for rain, been painted head-to-toe in gold forced to act as a statue and rubbed oil on the high priest's hairy chest. It's no wonder Oh began wondering how the seemingly good society justified their acts in the name of a god.
The character development of Oh was probably the only aspect of Year One I found entertaining. I enjoyed the character's enlightenment and compared it with that of my own. Honestly, it was a bit frustrating to see otherwise talented actors in undeserved material. I probably wouldn't suggest this movie to practically anyone with a Judaea-Christian lifestyle, for the film is sure to offend those lacking an open mind to the humor of religious themes.
That being said, Year One is probably at its best a rental. Although personally, Oh's "yes we can" line put a bang in my buck.
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