Ferrell and Rachel McAdams don silly costumes and belt out kitschy pop anthems, but the movie is workmanlike, mid-level Ferrell silliness
Before I say that “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” isn’t very funny, I should point out that I’ve underestimated the humor and the staying power of Will Ferrell comedies in the past. “Step Brothers” and “The Other Guys,” for instance, both seemed pretty flat the first time I saw them – but after a few more viewings (some voluntary, some not), I began to appreciate the durability of Catalina Wine Mixer and Little River Band jokes.
So maybe one day “Eurovision Song Contest,” which premieres on Netflix on Friday, will be one of those Ferrell films that needs repeat viewings and that will one day prove to be a surprisingly durable source of laughs.
But, you know, probably not.
Oh, there’s humor to be had in making fun of the glitzy musical competition that brought us Abba (back in 1974), Celine Dion (in ’88) and others of their ilk. And Dan Stevens kind of steals the show as a macho Russian pop singer with more than a touch of Siegfried or Roy in him.
Also Read:Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams Humiliate Iceland in New Look at ‘Eurovision’ Parody (Video)
But in the Ferrell canon, “Eurovision Song Contest” is a workmanlike, “Blades of Glory”-level effort, never as funny as you want it to be no matter how hard it tries or how silly its actors look.
Director David Dobkin has ventured down this road before, successfully in “Wedding Crashers” and less so in “Fred Claus” and “Shanghai Knights.
