I postulated earlier that Land of the Lost may be Will Ferrell's worst-reviewed film in his career as a big-time leading man. Turns out, that's just about the kindest thing that's been written about the comedian this week: as the Los Angeles Times writes in a sprawling feature today, Hollywood views him as a guy whose "movie-star credentials should be revoked."
Say what?!
Industry insiders and studio execs sound off about Universal's dinosaur-sized failure in the story, which specifically cites Ferrell's brand and comedy empire as "poorly managed." Misstep No. 1 for the star's team was lobbying hard for director Brad Siberling (), who is roundly denounced as having driven the movie into the ground. Says writer Patrick Goldstein in the article:
Sandler is the master of dumb hijinks. Eddie Murphy has become a cuddly family star. But who is Will Ferrell? No one knows anymore.
He's in danger of becoming the comedy equivalent of George Clooney, someone who enjoys a great deal of goodwill but who isn't actually a real movie star. That's what happens when you go down with the ship, promoting a movie that, as the New York Post's Lou Lumenick memorably put it in his review, "does not seem aimed at any identifiable demographic except fans of bad movies.
If your comments and the film's reviews are any indication, we already know how you feel about Land of the Lost. But is its star about to recede into a Jim-Carrey-like hibernation? Or can you, like me, not imagine a world without Ferrell?
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
