Report on Tribute to HAROLD RAMIS + Review of "YEAR ONE" movie at "JUST FOR LAUGHS"

Report on "JUST FOR LAUGHS" TRIBUTE with Award to HAROLD RAMIS + Review of his "YEAR ONE" movie

                "JUST FOR LAUGHS" TRIBUTE with Award to HAROLD RAMIS

Wednesday, June 16, 2009 marked the official “start” of the first annual “JUST FOR LAUGHS” Festival in Chicago...

...  They decided to begin it at the MUSIC BOX THEATER with giving a special Lifetime Achievement award to a Chicago native:  writer – actor – producer - director HAROLD RAMIS.  Despite a steady rain, there was a full house of very enthusiastic aficionados of his work…

                               …  As a prelude to getting an award trophy, a retrospective was shown of his past work--  ranging from SCTV (1976-79), to MEATBALLS (1979), CADDYSHACK (1980), & STRIPES (1981)...

...  Also:  GHOST BUSTERS (1984, as Dr. Egon Spengler), BACK TO SCHOOL & CLUB PARADISE (both 1986), GHOSTBUSTERS II (1989), GROUNDHOG DAY (1993), & MULTIPLICITY (1996)...

...  Plus:  ANALYZE THIS (1999), AS GOOD AS IT GETS (1999), BEDAZZLED (2000), HIGH FIDELITY (2000), ANALYZE THAT (2002), & THE OFFICE (2006-2007 as Director of 3 episodes)...

...  In addition to:  WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY (2007), KNOCKED UP (2007), & scenes from his brand new release (as actor, writer & director), “YEAR ONE”. 

                                        …  In accepting the award, Harold graciously introduced some people in the audience (such as from Second City) who helped mentor his career and people whom he enjoyed working with through the years...

...  Following the presentation, they showed his NEW film scheduled to open June 19^th, namely, “YEAR ONE” – which is being reviewed below...

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                   Review of Ramis' film "YEAR ONE"

Review of film:  “YEAR ONE” – I don’t know who was in charge of the Numbering, but they got the Right PEOPLE for it! =

                     Rating:  7 of 10 stars (based on an advance screening).

The early trailers tended to make it seem like stars JACK BLACK (as “New-Age” thinker Zed) and MICHAEL CERA (as virgin “O”) were like cavemen...

...  But, as they’re forced to leave their village (in effect as outcasts), the film turns into a BIBLICAL story wherein the stars try to find and save their beloved captive women (JUNE DIANE RAPHAEL as Maya & JUNO TEMPLE as Eema)…

…  Along the way (which is paved with some very funny silly, gross-out and periodically-sexual humor), you thus get to meet Adam (HAROLD RAMIS), Cain (DAVID CROSS), Abel (PAUL RUDD), Abraham (HANK AZARIA), Isaac (CHRISTOPHER MINTZ-PLATZ), OLIVER PLATT as a mincing High Priest, & cameos from ADRIEN BRODY, BILL HADER, and others…

…  Black’s back as a very effective “out there” heroic bombast, and Cera is his usual fine self at underplaying his role, making for memorable give-&-take “buddy” scenes between them & their cohorts…

…  It’s not a great parody, but there’s a lot of nutty FUN inherent in the purposely over-played story. Think of it as a comedic “The Taking of SODOM 1-2-3”;  after all, “vacation getaways” aren’t what they “used” to be!..

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