Year One (2009)

Harold Ramis returns to writing and directing with a sophomoric prehistoric effort. Jack Black plays Jack Black and Michael Cera his straight man. The movie has been made before — “Life of Brian,” “Wholly Moses” and “History of the World: Part 1.”

d: Harold Ramis | imdb.com | trailer | Holy of holies | Stoned

I Love You, Man (2009)

Engaged but friendless, Paul Rudd looks for a best man and finds fellow Rush fanatic Jason Segel in a poor man’s version of a Judd Apatow film. The movie is so precious, so sweet that it needs a shot of adrenaline — maybe a bar fight or Steve McQueen.

d: John Hamburg | imdb.com | trailer | Open House | Rushified

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Jason Segel writes and stars in this break-up comedy, performing the first Dracula puppet musical and exposing himself (literally and emotionally) to Kristen Bell. But Russell Brand, as British rocker and sex god Aldous Snow, steals the movie.

d: Nicholas Stoller | imdb.com | trailer