Hank Azaria

Year One (2009)

~ Nikki Baughan

The devolution of comedy…

On paper, it must have looked like a hit. Directed by the legendary Harold Ramis (Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day), produced by modern comedy wunderkind Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) and starring box office golden boys Jack Black (School of Rock) and Michael Cera (Superbad) – along with a host of familiar genre faces – Year One has enough talent behind it to fuel a blockbuster. Throw in a simple story of the adventures of two primitive hunter-gatherers that seemingly leaves plenty of room for Black and Cera to clown around, and you’ve got the formula for a comedy classic, right?

Oh, so wrong.

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Night at the Museum 2 (2009)

~ Nikki Baughan

House of wax…

Two years after his eye-opening stint as a night guard at New York’s Natural History Museum, where he had his hands full with exhibits that come alive at night, Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) has made his fortune as an inventor. But when he discovers that his old pals, including Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) and Jedediah Smith (Owen Wilson), are being shipped off to the Federal Archives at Washington’s sprawling Smithsonian Museum, Larry realises they need his help; particularly as ancient Egyptian king Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria) has his mind set on taking over the world.  Arriving at the Smithsonian, Larry – helped by feisty female pilot Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) – must take on a mind-blowing array of exhibits, some friend and some foe, if he is to save the day.

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