A Song Of Ice And Fire.
123 Mins. Starring: Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Dan Stevens, Demi Lovato, Graham Norton & Pierce Brosnan. Director: David Dobkin.
Nil poi! After deerstalking searching under a Sherlock magnify glass for the jokes in the 'Step Brothers' and 'Talladega Nights' reunion of 'Holmes and Watson' with John C. Reilly. Let's go back to a time when hearing about the concept of a Will Ferrell comedy from the 'Anchorman' star was legendary like Ron Burgundy. Will Ferrell stars as a figure skating champion that some people call, "the illustrated man" because he has three tattoos ('Blades Of Glory')? Amazing! Will Ferrell plays a Basketball player/coach in the seventies who also has a 'Sexy' soul song out, all whilst inventing the halftime show with bear cage matches ('Semi-Pro')? For a hoops aficionado like me, awesome. Will Ferrell finally assembles the news team that were standing there the whole time for an 'Anchorman' sequel ('The Legend Continues')? Perfect...even if the bonus movie DVD extra ('Wake-Up Ron Burgundy') from the first film was funnier. Will Ferrell channels his love for Eurovision and all things Nordic to play a contestant standing in the shadow of the fact that his dad is James Bond himself, Pierce Brosnan! Mamma Mia! I know we're not talking about Mastercard here, but priceless. Especially as COVID-19 put an end to 2020's biggest event too. We need this comic relief, especially those of us whose European youth is nostalgic to sitting up all night to not only watch all the nations sing, but all the nations vote in a event as epic as the performances prior. Only to realize yet again that England has come away with as many points as we score from the penalty spot in the World Cup. Eurovision is never coming home, but in Ferrell's fierce 'Story Of Fire Saga' it can at least come to our living rooms as we have to still cast the big screen from our laptops with many cinemas still corona closed in quarantine lockdown from a social distance.
'Birds Of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn'. What's your beef with long titles? 'The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby' Will has always had a way with them. Besides previously you could have just said, "that Harley Quinn one". Now we are all staying safe and at home you can just type "Euro" in the search bar of Netflix and pretend like you weren't trying to find some fancy foreign film that you claim is "arty" as you close the laptop lid down whilst your significant other or mother walks in the room. What?! This doesn't happen to you? You could do a lot worse with your evening than spending some silly, stupid fun with the King of Slapstick Comedy himself. Sticking to the script of his schtick. What more would you expect from a man whose character name is literally Lars Erickssong? Another overgrown man-child that wants to leave his Icelandic, sleeping fishy town of Húsavík. But why? Look at how subtly cinematically beautiful it is. No wonder Thor chose this as the ravishing realm home of his post 'Ragnarok' new Asgard. But this time the "fleshy disco ball" is Ferrell. And as 'Wedding Crashers' director David Dobkin reunites the Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughan classic comedies stars Ferrell and Rachel McAdams, he brings the real world of the 40 country, 20,000 strong Eurovision audience to 200 million around the world is now on a virtual stage for anyone with an internet connection and somebody else's Netflix password. ABBA, Bucks Fizz and Celine Dion have all won Eurovision. Now it's time for Will to find his way.
Eurotrash has never sounded so good...and you know what that show used to be about, don't pretend like you don't. A star may not exactly be born here...but some incredible covers are adopted for some showstopping scenes featuring actual acts. And just wait until you hear the actual song itself. DING, DONG! Complete with mountains, ahead of its time keyboard social distancing and more waterfalls chased than TLC (like Michael Keaton in 'The Other Guys', "We gotta 'Creep'"). In knee high, kinky, 'Space Force' boots, looking like something out of 'Game Of Thrones', sharing the same hairdresser as hippy Bill Walton did when this Grateful Dead fan was trail blazing in Portlandia, Ferrell (whose career looked like it was going 'Downhill' until said movie this year. 'Daddy's Home' again like the sequel. Giving it to American tourists like Starbucks on every Pumpkin Spice smelling corner) is something else here. Something straight out of a SNL skit...and one of his gems too. Like when he sucked the life out of his Air Supply, Simon to his Garfunkel. But don't expect any Fleetwood Mac like romance here with his co-star Rachel McAdams. As Lars Singsong or whatever his name is warns his performing partner about what happens when music groups dip their microphone in the company ink. You know what happened to Post Malone!?! Besides they may just be brother and sister like we still haven't worked out with The White Stripes. One things for sure McAdams is on the form of her life. And 'The Notebook', 'Sherlock Holmes' and 'Game Night' versatile star may be one of Ferrell's best co-stars that have recently ranged from Amy Poehler ('The House' that actually wins this time...who would have thought it) and Kevin Hart ('Get Hard'. Like Will, funny but a little soft in the middle). But this is more than just double trouble tonight. Add powerhouse pop star Demi Lovato playing it up as a Nordic megastar and that is SO Graham Norton actually as himself with his classic, comedic commentary that is as signature to this show as synth and autotune (how has T-Pain not won this whole thing yet?! Oh wait...Europe). Add a perfect Pierce Brosnan (don't worry he doesn't sing like, 'Here We Go Again') as a bearded pops and you've got our vote tonight. But it's 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Legion' star Dan Stevens whose classic contestant cliche steals the show like this 'Lion Of Love' exhibit in 'Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb' did. Eurostepping like James Harden with this saga of Iceland and fire. Even with the stage left this year, this one really sings. No contest. Enjoy the biscuits. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Blades Of Glory', 'A Night At The Roxbury', 'Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping'.
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