Year One

Jack Black and Michael Cera are philosophical caveman misfits who wander out of their pocket of Eden and into the Holy Lands of biblical lore in the History of the World According to Harold Ramis. Ramis' first comedy since "Analyze That" in 2002 is produced by Judd Apatow and has the improvisational feel of his films. But the script feels more sketched than written and largely gives in to Black and Cera's usual schtick as they debate the meaning of life and the existence of God while slipping in and out of slavery and servitude. It's mildly amusing with jabs of wily inspiration and long stretches of obligatory adolescent sex and excrement jokes, but once in a while the yearning and questioning of these far-sighted doofuses really hits home.

Available in both PG-13 and unrated versions, the latter only a couple of minutes longer. Black and Cera join writer/director Ramis for a jovial commentary track full of lighthearted conversation and a thoroughly inconsequential making-of featurette. The two deleted scenes are entertaining enough, and there are 10 extended/alternate scenes, but the most fun is the "Line-O-Rama" montage of alternate punch lines and improvisational dialogue. The unrated edition features both versions, an unrated gag reel, a couple of gag pieces and a terrific alternate ending with a rain of fire on Sodom. The Blu-ray exclusives are BD-Live enabled and were unavailable at the time of review.