It has often been said that a film is not simply the sum of its parts. Well in “Year One”, starring Jack Black and Michael Cera, featuring a slew of star cameos, and directed by Harold Ramis, this is proven true. This not very funny comedy is not simply the sum of its parts. It’s much less. We know Jack Black can be funny. We know Michael Cera can be funny. We know Harold Ramis can write, direct AND be funny. However, these talents just fail to add up and as a consequence, “Year One” is not only a bit of an incomprehensible mess, it’s also not funny. Hit the jump for the rest of my review.

I know I was laughing throughout “Year One” but I think it’s only because I have a good sense of humor and I enjoy the rush of endorphins that laughter provides.  Trying to remember what exactly I laughed at, I couldn’t tell you.  It’s a film that vanishes from your memory the second you leave the theatre and you’re left wondering what happened to the last hour and forty minutes and why your pants are missing (I have recently been informed that I am no longer invited to screenings of Sony films).

Opening tomorrow is director Harold Ramis’ new comedy “Year One”. To help promote the film, our partners at Omelete were invited to New York City to interview everyone involved and they sent me. So thanks to them, after the jump you can watch our exclusive video interview with director Harold Ramis.

During the interview, we talked about how the movie got put together, what’s on the DVD/Blu-ray, the massive sets that were built, what Bible story had to be cut due to budget, and, of course, I asked about “Ghostbusters 3″. It’s a great interview so take a look:

Ray Parker Jr. has continued to work. You wouldn’t probably know it unless you were a fan. But he put out an album in 2006. At this point, not only is Ray Parker Jr. not afraid of no ghosts, no one is afraid of no ghosts. People may be more afraid of Ray Parker Jr. than ghosts. We like in a post-scared of no ghosts culture. It is hard to know how good busting makes someone feel, though.

Ghostbusters is a bona-fide “classic” now. It’s a loosey-goosey movie, it’s tightly put together, but it feels free. The set pieces never feel stuck in their boxes, and the comedians seem to bring their own sensibilities to the material. Directed by Ivan Reitman from a script by Harold Ramis and Dan Ayroyd, it moves at a quick clip and balances the boo scares with the jokes successfully. It’s one of the film effects driven comedies that works as a comedy first. But it’s Bill Murray’s movie.

More after the jump:

This Friday, director Harold Ramis’ new comedy “Year One” hits theatres. So to help promote the film, I spent the past two days in New York City as a reporter for our partner website Omelete.  In the coming days I’ll be posting the full interviews, but with all the talk about another “Ghostbusters” movie floating around the Internet, I figured I should post what he told me right now.

The highlight: if the script for “Ghostbusters 3″ turns out as good as everyone hopes, they’re all in. Even Bill Murray!

The video interview and quotes after the jump:

Opening next weekend is director Harold Ramis’ “Year One”. The film stars Jack Black and Michael Cera as a couple of lazy hunter-gatherers that are banished from their primitive village and are forced to set off on an epic journey through the ancient world.

The screenplay is by Harold Ramis & Gene Stupnitsky & Lee Eisenberg (”The Office”) from a story by Harold Ramis. The film is produced by Harold Ramis, Judd Apatow, and Clayton Townsend and it also stars David Cross and Hank Azaria.

So to help promote the film, we’ve been provided with 8 clips and you can watch them after the jump. Take a look:

“The time is right.”

These were the words spoken by legendary director/producer Ivan Reitman last night at the Ghostbusters 25^th Anniversary Blu-Ray Premiere at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. I had the privilege to attend the event, courtesy of Fangoria, Atari, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. There, I watched the original Ghostbusters film in Blu-ray on the big screen, played the soon-to-be-released videogame, and spoke with Mr. Reitman about all things Ghostbusters, as well as his most anticipated project, Ghostbusters III.

Let’s get right to it: the status of Ghostbusters III. According to Reitman, a general outline for the film has already been completed by its two writers, Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg (who also wrote the upcoming Harold Ramis directed film, Year One). Dan Aykroyd has been saying in interviews recently that the film will be about “passing on the torch to a new generation of Ghostbusters.” Reitman said that while this is true, he stressed that it is merely one part of the story they’re trying to tell. The writers are expected to turn in their first completed draft in a month or so, and all five of the Ghostbusters “rights holders” will review and approve it.

What do I mean by all five? Ghostbusters is not owned solely by Sony/Columbia Pictures. They are just one part of what Ivan Reitman considers to be a sort of Ghostbusters “family.” Before anything can move forward on anything related to Ghostbusters, all five parties must submit their approval. This includes Sony/Columbia, Ivan Reitman, Dan Akryoyd, Harold Ramis, and Bill Murray. Reitman contributes the protection of the franchise (aka why there haven’t been dozens of Ghostbusters sequels) to this “family.” As such, Reitman stressed that “Ghostbusters III is never definite,” but it’s certainly looking pretty good now.

It’s a little hard to believe that the “Ghostbusters” franchise has been dormant for so long (it’s not like the second film was a catastrophe of “Batman & Robin” proportions) but now “Ghostbusters” has risen from the dead with a videogame debuting this summer and now Dan Aykroyd telling the LA Times that the third film in the series could start filming as soon this winter.

While some elements are still in flux (such as the plot details), Aykroyd cements some elements:

- Ivan Reitman will NOT return to direct the third film as he’s far too busy with his producing commitments.  However, Dr. Egon Spengler, Harold Ramis, could possibly direct the new installment.

- Aykroyd, Ramis, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver will all return but in a reduced capacity.  Aykroyd wisely notes, “I’d like it to be a passing-of-the-torch movie. Let’s revisit the old characters briefly and happily and have them there as family but let’s pass it on to a new generation.”  I couldn’t agree more.  While we all love how these actors portrayed their characters, no one wants to guys in their sixties strapping on proton packs.

Hit the jump to read who Aykroyd would like to see fill out the beige jumpsuits.