ViewGuide

Created Jan 17, 2009 07:44AM PST • Edited Jan 17, 2009 07:44AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Not the greatest Ferrell film of recent times, but a worthy addition to the collection of insane, man-child characterisations that he seems to have made his own.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Ferrell and Reilly are really just let off the leash and allowed to act like kids – that’s probably why they’re so ridiculously funny. Richard Jenkins and Mary Steenburgen are also hilarious as the despairing parents, whilst cameos and smaller roles only add to the laughter.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

   Will Ferrell appears to have carved a niche for these roles – Ron Burgundy, Jackie Moon and Ricky Bobby are all shades of the same inane, stupid character that now manifests as Brennan Huff. The strength of his performance relies on its opposition to Reilly’s, and Dale Doback presents himself, like Cal Noughton, as the stupid foil to Ferrell’s insane performance. Thing is, neither are that believable – and with the superiority of characters like Burgundy, it’s hard to see why Ferrell doesn’t stretch his humour a lot more. Richard Jenkins is worthy of praise though; as Dale’s long suffering father Robert, he explodes at the most bizarre times, and his face seems to indicate that every year he’s put up with this has taken a toll!

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

   Mary Steenburgen plays Brennan’s mother Nancy, and she gives a little calm to the proceedings; which, in many scenes, only increases the laughter of a situation. She works almost like a counterpoint or foil to the man-children and Robert – the normal person in amongst the insanity.

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

   Kathryn Hahn, seen in bit parts in other comedies such as Anchorman, gets a bigger role – and look out for her in upcoming comedies, as her performance here is the biggest surprise. As Derek’s downtrodden wife, she seduces and accosts Dale at any given opportunity – and the fantasies and conversations she creates in these situations are some of the funniest parts of the film.

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

   Adam Scott, as Brennan’s younger brother Derek, is hilarious – the man looks and sneers like Tom Cruise, and his rabid control and need for superiority over his brother means that the character is that much more of an important figure in the funniest scenes. In fact, one of the best scenes of the film comes through his character’s need for excellency in his family, and his behaviour at the conclusion cements him as a new comedy actor for the Apatow team – interestingly opposite to the needless cameo from Seth Rogen, who I feel will soon want to play something other than the schlubby, slightly bemused by anything character he plays here in one small scene.

10. Film

    Good 3.0

    Adam McKay manages to direct another ridiculous Ferrell comedy, and his collaborations, both script-wise and directorial alongside Ferrell, are consistently funny. The dialogue is (needless to say) hilarious, but there are some shockingly weak scenes sandwiched inbetween the big laughs. The music is brilliant, both in performance and use – some songs you won’t hear the same again!

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

    McKay ably manages to stage the mad comedy that Ferrell indulges in to the full – witness the riot at the children’s playground, or the antics of Dale and Brennan around the house, and it’s easy to see why the director is good at staging the physical comedy as well as presenting the spoken comedy.

12. Play Good 3.0

    There are some great lines, some fantastic (and memorable) lines, and shockingly some real clunkers. The scenes in which Brennan and Dale interview for jobs are terrible – and it’s a shame, as it detracts from some of the really great scenes that surround it. As said above, most of the scenes containing Jenkins and Hahn are the best of the film – particularly the latter, whose obsession with Dale leads to some incredibly wrong yet hilarious lines you’ll remember afterward.

13. Music Good 3.0

    The soundtrack itself is ample for the film, but it’s the use of songs here that gives the film much of its score. Sweet Child O’Mine is presented, a cappella, by Derek and his family to hilarious effect, whilst Time To Say Goodbye is performed by Ferrell so well that you would begin to think he should change career.

14. Visuals Good 3.0

    A lot of the film is reliant on physical comedy, and fortunately McKay can present it very well – from the two men fighting across the house, through to their exploits in attempting to reunite the parents and keep the house, it’s sometimes the case that the physical laughs outweigh the spoken.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.5

    The swearing is quite prevalent, and there are some scenes of sex and violence – though all in the name of comedy, and as such nothing disturbing.

17. Sex Titillating 2.0

18. Violence Fierce 2.0

19. Rudeness Profane 3.5

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

    People like Brennan and Dale exist – no joking there.

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0