Will Ferrell’s newest foray into dramatic work is generally smart and well acted, but it has its fair share of flaws as well. The film is often very funny, usually darkly so, but it sets a pace that is too slow and plodding for it to really work as a dark comedy. It tackles some serious issues and builds some satisfying relationships between its characters,but the subject matter is always too ridiculous for it to be taken seriously as a drama. And while that ridiculous subject matter is well set up in the film’s first act, it never really finds anywhere satisfying enough to go in the final stretch. Ferrell did fine as the lead, and Christopher Jordan Wallace managed to shine in a supporting role. Most of the humor was sharp and well executed. This thing just felt too long. It seemed like it didn’t really know where it was going and it took its time getting there. Fine for a lazy afternoon, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to seek it out.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Short Round: Everything Must Go (2011) ***/*****
Will Ferrell’s newest foray into dramatic work is generally smart and well acted, but it has its fair share of flaws as well. The film is often very funny, usually darkly so, but it sets a pace that is too slow and plodding for it to really work as a dark comedy. It tackles some serious issues and builds some satisfying relationships between its characters,but the subject matter is always too ridiculous for it to be taken seriously as a drama. And while that ridiculous subject matter is well set up in the film’s first act, it never really finds anywhere satisfying enough to go in the final stretch. Ferrell did fine as the lead, and Christopher Jordan Wallace managed to shine in a supporting role. Most of the humor was sharp and well executed. This thing just felt too long. It seemed like it didn’t really know where it was going and it took its time getting there. Fine for a lazy afternoon, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to seek it out.
