I thought Will Ferrell's transition from SNL to the big screen in Old School (2003) and Anchorman (2004) was seamless. I own a copy of Stepbrothers (2008), a perfect buddy comedy. After that, it's been downhill until 2020's aptly titled non-comedy Downhill. He's put out dozens of concept movies in search of one single laugh. He's Sherlock! An ice dancer! A basketball semi-pro! A cop! A racecar driver!
I really thought the one thing you could count on to be non-funny is a thin comedy sketch, genre concept movie with Will Ferrell involved.
Even less funny are music videos that are supposed to be a parody. That's how this film starts. I can't believe I loved this film about an Icelandic couple competing in The Eurovision Song Contest, an actual American Idol-style song competition that once put Abba on the map.
Ferrell plays Lars Erickssong, a long-haired clueless dreamer who with Sigrit Ericksdottir (Rachel McAdams), makes up the band Fire Saga. I know, I know, it sounds horrible. But the pratfalls are undeniably funny, the songs are a hoot, and the story progresses to a heartfelt finale.
I was tricked into watching the film to discover why its song was the frontrunner for Academy Award for Best Original Song. Lucky me.
In a nutshell: All the elements of a bad film are here, but it's a lot of fun and a great Netflix night. You'll probably add "Ja Ja Ding Dong" to your playlists too.
Award potential: "Husavik" was frontrunner for Oscars' Best Original Song, losing to H.E.R.'s "Fight for You" from Judas and the Black Messiah
Where to find it: Netflix
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.
Ferrell plays Lars Erickssong, a long-haired clueless dreamer who with Sigrit Ericksdottir (Rachel McAdams), makes up the band Fire Saga. I know, I know, it sounds horrible. But the pratfalls are undeniably funny, the songs are a hoot, and the story progresses to a heartfelt finale.
I was tricked into watching the film to discover why its song was the frontrunner for Academy Award for Best Original Song. Lucky me.
In a nutshell: All the elements of a bad film are here, but it's a lot of fun and a great Netflix night. You'll probably add "Ja Ja Ding Dong" to your playlists too.
Award potential: "Husavik" was frontrunner for Oscars' Best Original Song, losing to H.E.R.'s "Fight for You" from Judas and the Black Messiah
Where to find it: Netflix
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.