Comments on: Open Forum Friday: Is Will Ferrell Still Funny?

By: RonnieLRQ

RonnieLRQ — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:58:18 +0000

Hey everyone,

Been reading the forum for a while just wanted to introduce myself – what’s up?

By: Brett

Brett — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:02:17 +0000

It’s an interesting question.

Will Ferrell knows comedy and is a comedic genius. If something was funny once, it’s still funny. The rules of comedy don’t really change.

If you showed “Semi-Pro” to someone who had never heard of Will Ferrell before, I would be willing to bet they’d laugh harder at it than the rest of us who have seen him saturated in the comedy spotlight for 10+ years (provided they have a sense of humor intact before viewing).

The problem, then, is diminishing returns. People can get tired of hearing the same joke. So Will Ferrell does need to mix up the shtick, pick a different character or approach so we are surprised by him again.

By: scoville

scoville — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 04:31:18 +0000

NOT FUNNY.

By: Primal

Primal — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:38:08 +0000

I think Will Ferrell is still funny. Not as funny as his SNL days, but he can still make me laugh. It seems like quite a few of you guys are putting him up on a pedestal. Saying he should do this and do that is a bit redundant.

For me, I think he has been able to do everything he has been able to do so far. I don’t really compare him to Sandler/Carrey yet because Ferrell isn’t trying to be a dramatic actor yet, but he could be our generation’s Bill Murray if he maintains the his integrity of his choice of work. Maybe I am also putting him on a pedestal too, heh.

By: Baychuk

Baychuk — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:31:00 +0000

Anchorman….ugh! So unfunny. Actually I did laugh in one scene where he was falling in love or something.

By: Derek

Derek — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:25:53 +0000

Personally, I was incredibly disappointed with Anchorman and ever since then it’s been downhill….. though I thought he was pretty good in Stranger Than Fiction. So, yeah…. I’d second the less “manchild” recommendation.

By: Julien

Julien — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:38:59 +0000

I’m still excited whenever Will Ferrell coughs up a movie, but as many here, I would like more diversity in his choices of roles. In flicks like “Old School”, he had somewhat of a side-line role which made his presence on the screen that much more efficient.

Albeit he wasn’t at the popularity level he is now, it seems like roles like this one would serve him good by keeping him out of the comedy sole spotlight while still giving him the opportunities to do what he loves. He’s now heading towards a similar path as Adam Sandler’s. Thing is, nobody complains on Sandler while he coughs up straight-up shit comedies (only reason I watch his comedies is for Rob Schneider)…

I’ve seen the atrocious critics fr “Semi-Pro” but they’re the same critics who gave “Be Kind, Rewind” 2.5/4. And although I don’t have any expectations except for a good laughs/scene ratio, I’m still gonna give it chance. Why? Because it’s fuckin’ WILL FERRELL, that’s why!

By: Baychuk

Baychuk — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:43:17 +0000

I agree with the idea that Wil should take on better roles. As it stands he’s about the equivalent of a “big kid” in a lot his movies, which is tedious.

By: kurt

kurt — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 04:09:27 +0000

I don’t know if I was anticipating or dreading a Will Farrell starring CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES. Ambitious and famous material to tackle, but it’d never make the kind of money Semi-Pro or Blades of Glory will see. It’s probably end up straight to DVD like the adaptation of Vonnegut’s BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS.

By: Sean

Sean — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:20:59 +0000

Well I guess one possibility is for him to lay low for a while, kind of like Mike Myers did. He could just take a break from big blockbusters for a year or two, and stay away from the viral videos that are constantly keeping him in the spotlight and spreading him so thin. It’s not like he needs the money. The thing is, I’m assuming he’s passionate about his work, in which case a long hiatus would suck. And then when you come back, you’re out of touch and washed up, just like Mike Myers.

By: Goon

Goon — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:03:47 +0000

on the other hand though, what advice do you really give someone like Will Ferrell?

I mean, he does do some smaller films already, which people dont seem to notice even exist… so does Jack Black – how many of his fans saw or care that he did “Margot at the Wedding”? They just say they’re sick of him whenever something new comes along…
What can you really say to Will Ferrell – “get yourself stunt casted in a Spike Jonze or PT Anderson movie” – “do full on drama”?

By: Henrik

Henrik — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:44:29 +0000

If you want funny, watch the Will Ferrell/Jim Carrey sketch ‘Lifeguard on duty’. That’s classic shit. I haven’t seen that many of Will Ferrels movies because most of them look like shit, and my disposable income isn’t that great, but I do think that anchorman ruled.