One of the Most Outrageous Moments in Land of the Lost Was Entirely Spontaneous
In hindsight, the film “Land of the Lost” might not have been the best financial decision. With a hefty budget of around $100 million, this adaptation directed by Brad Silberling of the classic Sid & Marty Kroft 1970s Saturday morning show aimed to capture the nostalgia of Generation X while appealing to their Zoomer kids at the local cinema. Embracing the campy essence of the original series, Silberling, along with screenwriters Chris Henchy and Dennis McNicholas, framed the movie as a whimsical parody of its predecessor. They enlisted a stellar comedic cast featuring Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Jorma Taccone, and Anna Friel, who played the incredibly accommodating straight-woman, hoping to deliver plenty of laughs as they navigated encounters with Sleestaks and massive prehistoric critters.
Despite the high hopes, the film only managed to pull in $69 million during its summer 2009 release. Whether you label it a massive flop or simply a commercial disappointment depends on your perspective. Regardless of the terminology, the financial outcome was far from satisfying, which is why Taccone hasn’t reprised his role as the furry, somewhat unhinged Chaka in over 15 years—a cinematic shame, to say the least.
While “Land of the Lost” might not succeed as a traditional adventure film, that’s somewhat deliberate. Watching Chaka repeatedly attempt to have Ferrell’s overconfident Dr. Rick Marshall meet his demise offers a unique thrill of its own. Or consider the comedic duo of Ferrell and McBride—an unmatched pair—as they perform an autotune rendition of Cher’s “Believe” through an ancient crystal. The film doesn’t always follow logic, nor should it, serving instead as a vehicle to poke fun at a childhood classic through silly and often inappropriate humor that dances dangerously close to an R-rating.
This offbeat approach, however, didn’t resonate with audiences at the box office, and that’s their loss. They missed some genuine hilarity, particularly illustrated in the scene where Rick, Will, and Chaka unexpectedly feast on giant crab legs, a moment that was completely unscripted.
The memorable sequence begins with the trio stumbling upon a deserted motel in the desolate desert. Starving and desperate, they munch on some mysterious fruit with psychotropic effects, leading to an absurd yet captivating moment near the pool of the motel. Eventually immobilized outside in the heat, a giant crab charges toward them. Just when things seem dire, the crab gets sucked underwater and then spat out in chunks right in front of the trio.
The scene transitions to Rick, Will, and Chaka devouring the crab legs, complete with a massive lemon wedge. As Silberling described, the vibe was all about pushing boundaries—”Let’s take it further, what happens if the crab is boiled? These guys are out of it anyway, let’s add the giant lemon wedge.” This entire sequence, characterized by their jovial chaos, was spontaneously generated, resulting in continuous camera work that never cut away. Timing it perfectly during the magic hour lent an exciting risk to the scene, and it paid off, as Silberling reflected on the joy it brought him.
The hilarity escalates with Rick, having made amends with Chaka—who throughout the film has threatened his very existence—comically pledging to share a tongue kiss with his new buddy. It’s undeniably absurd, and yet, it’s inexplicably funny, much like the entirety of “Land of the Lost.”
Should we hope for a sequel, “Land of the Lost 2?” Technically, “Land of the Lost” itself was unnecessary, yet now that it’s part of our cinematic landscape, I genuinely crave more, and it’s a piercing disappointment to realize we might never see it come to fruition.
