Film adaptations of the Bible in a comical manner are few and far between, but one such movie will hit theaters on Friday.
Year One, directed by Harold Ramis, features two Stone Age men (Jack Black and Michael Cera) who leave their homes and travel into the Old Testament biblical world,
according to an article on CNN.Ramis believes that
Year One is a unique kind of film that our generation hasn't seen much of before.
"No one had done this film for our generation," Ramis told CNN. It's like, you know, when 'Animal House' [which Ramis co-wrote] came out, there were college films. Every generation had college films, but our generation didn't have one yet, and I don't know that our generation - this young, new generation of kids has a, you know, a sandal epic yet, and this is the one. This is for them."
As a leading actor in the film, Jack Black is excited to take part in a portrayal of the Bible in a humorous light.
"That was the fun of this thing," he said. "It's like, we are going to have some fun with the Bible; you don't see it very often. It hasn't really been done since
Monty Python days. 'Life of Brian.' "
Ramis also follows up with this
Monty Python comparison.
"I told people that I wanted to do for the Old Testament what
Monty Python did for the Gospels," he said. "Which is just to kind of take a funny look and project a contemporary sensibility back to these treasured myths of Western civilization.
Of course, any portrayal of Scripture in a less than reverent light receives its share of criticism.
The 1979 comedy
Life of Brian, the 1988 film
The Last Temptation of Christ, and even
The Passion of the Christ, a film many of us can remember, have been critiqued by various Christians as irreverent.
Ramis defends his purpose in making this film, stating that he did not at all intend to belittle or make fun of Christianity.
"It wasn't so much to attack any particular religion," he added. "I figure all religions are good. They all make sense on paper; it's just the exploitation of religion that's been a problem, by ... people using religion to justify war, or to justify government or, you know, 'God made me do it.'"
Despite the negative reviews this film is bound to receive from many, some early reviews have been unexpectedly positive.
The film was even received warmly in its Sodom shooting location, Sibley, Louisiana, in the heart of the Bible belt.
Would you go to see
Year One? Do you approve or disapprove of films that portray the Bible in a comical light?
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