Year One

Year One has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in the UK on Amazon Prime Video. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 2,055 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Jack Black sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

There is a reason Year One keeps coming up in conversation. The jokes in Year One land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. When a couple of lazy hunter-gatherers are banished from their primitive village, they set off on an epic journey through the ancient world. Jack Black and Michael Cera lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2009. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Year One holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Year One. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Jack Black sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.