After years of movies that either underplayed his talents (Step Brothers) or over played them, asking him to trot out the same old blowhard shtick (Semi-Pro), Will Ferrell struck comedy gold last year in The Other Guys, playing a mild mannered guy slowly coming unraveled. The performance was a revelation, and Ferrell has followed that up with another one in Everything Must Go. Whoever is responsible for Ferrell’s career track these days is making all the right moves.
In Everything Must Go, Ferrell plays a guy who loses his job, his wife, his joint bank accounts, his company car, and even his house (his wife locks him out of it and puts all his stuff on the lawn) in a single, very terrible day. The universe seems to be coordinating against him, as it so often does for lead movie characters who have to hit bottom before rebounding (also showing the funny side of loser dom in theaters is Bridesmaids), and rebound Ferrell–predictably–does.
What Works: But his movie feels different. Much sharper and soulful than a typical cookie cutter lesson about avoiding alcoholism (Ferrell’s problems are triggered because he can’t get through a day without a drink). I really enjoyed it, and I never thought I’d say that about a movie where the main character spends 95 percent of the movie in misery (he lives on his front lawn for the entire thing). And Ferrell is terrific as a guy unsure if he wants to wallow in his hopeless situation or repair it. You root for him even if he doesn’t root for himself.
What Doesn’t Work: Rebecca Hall is not entirely convincing as Ferrell’s sweet, pregnant new neighbor. And having her pregnant and married might be a nice surprise (virtually guaranteeing they can’t hook up) but there’s a reason for conventional movie romances: they’re more satisfying. Also, the movie probably needed one good scene where Ferrell just snaps, letting his signature rage fly off in a dramatic direction, but the movie mostly keeps him more sad than angry.
What I Would Have Done Differently: I’d hate to even say, because I probably wouldn’t have made this movie at all. But I’m glad I wasn’t the studio executive that had to make the call on it. This movie works better than it has any right to. What might sound less than promising on paper is a comfortable way to kill two hours.