It was a super-cheesy television show in the’70s that featured special effects so bad that they are almost legendary. Now, Land of the Lost is remade as a big-screen vehicle for Will Ferrell, who is a funny guy… but his onscreen persona is really starting to grow tiresome. The fact that the film is designed specifically as a vehicle for him is its first fault: the first of many. Foul language and a shocking amount of sexual content may wind up being a turn-off for many parents who might think of taking their kids to this movie. Of course, given the movie’s complete lack of entertainment value, that may just be the excuse they are looking for.

The best stuff is, of course, when the professionals do what the professionals do best—make funny—in contexts that are truly surprising. And that’s on full display here. The format allows so many games to be played that ten episodes should consistently surprise both the performers and the audience. But the “customization” programmed by Carey to pander to his players’ strengths works against the spontaneity—and that’s on full display in this set, too. Sure, Brady’s a whiz at musical improv; but improv is supposed to be funny, not polished. I can also only stand so much of Mochrie in front of a green screen, or Carey’s attempt to wrangle a man-to-man smooch out of mock-homophobes Stiles and Brady.