Land of the Lost parents guide

Land of the Lost Parent Guide

Unfortunately in the mess of all these misplaced objects, any hint of family entertainment gets lost in a horde of crude humor that is not okay in this world or any other.

Overall D+

Dr. Rick Marshall's (Will Ferrell) last chance at fame is his much-maligned time-traveling machine. But when the device actually does work, he and his colleagues (played by Danny McBride and Anna Friel) fear they may never get to celebrate his success because they are now trapped in a dangerous alternate universe -- and they don't know how to get back.

Release date June 5, 2009

Violence C+
Sexual Content C
Profanity D+
Substance Use C-

Why is Land of the Lost rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Land of the Lost PG-13 for crude and sexual content and for language including a drug reference.

Run Time: 102 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) is not what you’d call a credible sort of scientist. While there is a miniscule possibility he is one of those eccentric, visionary individuals poised on the brink of a new discovery, it’s more likely he’s not.

Even if he does make a breakthrough, it will be hard to find someone to believe him, especially after the self-absorbed researcher throws a tantrum on the Today Show (similar to another famous guest) with host Matt Lauer. At a result of the outbreak, Rick is kicked out of his research lab and reduced to eating M&M stuffed donuts while rehearsing his theory of time travel to a classroom full of uninterested and mouthy Junior High students.

Luckily, Holly Cantrell (Anna Friel) comes to his rescue. A former student at a prestigious university, Holly stumbled across Rick’s research while at school and is enthralled with the possibility of an alternate universe. Egged on by her encouragement, he finishes his time travel machine and then the two of them use it to follow a vortex signal. It leads them to a dilapidated, tawdry tourist thrill ride, a kind of tunnel of horrors, in the middle of the desert. But before Will (Danny McBride), the scummy boat ride operator, agrees to take the two of them into the spooky passageway, he tries to sell them a mug fashioned in the shape of a woman’s unclothed upper torso. (His crude sales pitch likely won’t endear him to any of the female members of the audience.)

Finally, Will, Holly and Rick board an inflatable raft and head through the attraction’s murky, factory run-off water. Once inside, their tachyon machine opens a portal and they are thrust down into a world where lost things collect—like that scary space underneath the cushions on a couch. Among the discoveries are dinosaurs, lizard men, wrecked planes, an ice cream truck and a primate named Cha-Ka (Jorma Taccone). And of course, there’s an evil plot to take over Earth.

But this odd assortment of creatures is only part of what audiences will encounter on the adventure. Rick’s antics in this lost world include pouring dinosaur urine over himself, self-pleasuring and consuming an unusual juice with narcotic-like qualities. Audiences also see him running around in his underwear and attempting to exchange an intimate kiss with a male primate. As well, Cha-Ka has an obsession with Holly’s female attributes and is often shown "handling" her. Other sexual oriented jokes include crude comments about surgical procedures, alien mating habits, human body parts and homosexuals. Profanities, a crude ethnic joke, and an irreverent religious remark also mar this script.

The movie is based on a children’s sci-fi television series from the 70s. Unfortunately in the mess of all these misplaced objects, any hint of family entertainment gets lost in a horde of crude humor that is not okay in this world or any other.

Starring Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Anna Friel. Running time: 102 minutes. Theatrical release June 5, 2009. Updated

Land of the Lost
Rating & Content Info

Why is Land of the Lost rated PG-13? Land of the Lost is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for crude and sexual content and for language including a drug reference.

Spoofing an infamous television interview is just the first of jokes aimed at ridiculing others, including women, homosexuals, Christians, a specific ethnic group and those with food addictions. Characters fondle one another and themselves. Other sexual gags include a mug depicting female anatomy, crude names for sexual activity and body parts, two men trying to kiss, wet t-shirt jokes, a low cut tank top, a male enhancement drug, topless females with carefully concealed bosoms and men lying in suggestive sleeping positions. Bathroom-type humor portrays characters covered with dinosaur spit, one that is defecated from an animal and another that pours dinosaur urine all over himself. Blood splatters on the ground after a giant bug sucks it from a human. Characters throw rocks at one another. A man is sprayed with a fire extinguisher. Moments of peril occur when characters are chased, attacked by monsters or fall through holes in the ground. One character threatens to eat another. Profanities are prolific in this script, including a strong sexual expletive, an ethnic slur, an irreverent religious remark, and homosexual comments. The film also includes drug references and the depiction of a hallucinogenic experience.

Page last updated

Land of the Lost Parents' Guide

How do you feel about humor that attacks ethnic, religious or sexual groups even if it is done in a comedic setting? Would these same kinds of comments be acceptable outside of the movie theater?

If you could time travel to any point in history, past or present, when would it be?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Land of the Lost movie is October 13, 2009. Here are some details…

Release Date: 13 October 2009

Land of the Lost on DVD is presented in widescreen, with audio tracks in Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, French and Spanish) and Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround (English, French and Spanish). Subtitles are available in English, French and Spanish. Bonus materials include:

- Deleted Scenes

- A Day in the Life of a Big-Time Movie Star

- Devil’s Canyon Gift Shop Commercial and Tour

Land of the Lost on Blu-ray offers audio tracks DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), in Dolby Digital 5.1 (French and Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround (English). Subtitles are available in English, French and Spanish. Bonus materials include:

- Deleted Scenes (plus some additional scenes not included on the DVD version).

- A Day in the Life of a Big-Time Movie Star.

- Devil’s Canyon Gift Shop Commercial and Tour.

- Dr. Marshall’s Food Diaries (with commentary by Director Brad Silberling).

- This is Not a Routine Expedition (the making of Land of the Lost.)

- Bradley, Sid and Marty: A Conversation with the Krofft’s.

- Commentary with Director Brad Silberling.

- D-Box.

- BD Live - My Scenes Sharing.

Related home video titles:

Land of the Lost is based on two previous TV series. The concept of time travel and a skeptical public are also plot elements in the movies The Time Machine and Journey to the Center of the Earth.