Ferrell and Perlman

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N.Y. Times columnist Caryn James is on probation with an ankle bracelet for having gone sweet on Will Ferrell, the world's dorkiest-looking and, I feel, the most monotonous and not-all- that-funny comic performer around today. I'm feeling this more acutely than usual because of the impending Blades of Glory (Dreamamount, 3.30), which I'm dreading like the plague even though it's going to wail at the box-office five days from now.

Will Ferrell, Ron Perlman

I know what the Will Ferrell treatment is all about, and I've been wanting a break from it since he did that cameo in The Wedding Crashers. (I haven't really and truly enjoyed the guy since the days of his George Bush impressions on SNL.) Plus I'm starting to feel more and more turned off by the New Homophobia (straight comedians getting laughs by pretending to be passionately gay while alluding fifteen ways from Sunday that having anal sex with another guy -- be it a girlish blonde like Jon Heder or an ape with hairy legs and a five o'clock shadow -- is a fate worse than death, or roughly akin to getting nailed by a smelly horse), and it's quite clear that Blades of Glory is mired in this attitude up to its ears.

James actually states that Ferrell gave "one of last year's most affecting performances" in Stranger Than Fiction, and that he makes the character of Harold Crick, an I.R.S. agent who hears a woman's voice narrating his life, "a sweet, believable, heart-tugging guy." James is a irst-rate writer and well within her rights to say this, but my knee-jerk reaction to these words was "aaaahhhh, God!"

Ferrell's face "is often still, but you can see the thoughtfulness in his eyes," she explains. (Ferrell actually delivers the same double-track element in all his performances, which is to project exceptional uptown intelligence that is nonetheless dominated by a bone-dumb, cement-head yahoo mentality.)

"His small facial expressions and underplayed delivery," writes James, "become extremely funny as he registers surprise at the absurdity of his situation, then quiet, quizzical acceptance." (Okay, this worked in Stranger Than Fiction...I'll give him that.)

"This astute realism is not at all divorced from his comedy," James goes on, adding that Ferrell "may be the best actor" among a group of funny guys -- Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Bill Murray -- who've ventured into big-screen drama.

The fact is that Ferrell, however brainy or perceptive he may be in actuality, is ruled by a certain facial-ness that shouts out Quest for Fire and features that resemble no other actor as much as the great and widely respected Ron Perlman. There's nothing wrong with looking like Perlman in any way, shape or form, but it you lack the soul and the sadness that Perlman can convey at the drop of a hat, and you have the same kind of beady, close-together eyes and a somewhat similar overhanging forehead, you end up exuding a certain oppressive doofusness. Which is to say that servings of this over and over and over have led me (and I suspect, thousands of others) into a kind of stupefication.

"Grindhouse" in Europe<< previous | next >>Levine on comedians + drama

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 25, 2007 at 5:06 PM

comment #1

Josh Massey says ...

"...the most monotonous and not-all-that-funny comic performer around today."

Oh, come on. Nobody wears that description as well as Ben Stiller.

Posted by Josh Massey at March 25, 2007 6:21 PM

comment #2

D.Z. says ...

Blades of Glory doesn't really scream "hit". I mean, why would most straight guys intentionally see a movie going for homo-erotic humour?

Posted by D.Z. at March 25, 2007 6:39 PM

comment #3

Jack Lint says ...

Looks like Ron Perlman is lobbying for the lead role in that non-existent Tom Waits bio-pic.

Posted by Jack Lint at March 25, 2007 6:43 PM

comment #4

le corbeau says ...

I thought we were still in the truth tree.

Posted by le corbeau at March 25, 2007 6:43 PM

comment #5

Chris Molanphy says ...

I have mixed feelings here, because while I think Wells's aminus for Ferrell has itself turned into a tic â€“ he's been hating on Will nonstop since summer '05, and I for one liked the cameo in Wedding Crashers â€“ I agree with him wholeheartedly that James was on some powerful crack to be so excessively praising both Ferrell and Stranger Than Fiction in her article.

I also have to give you props, Jeffrey, for your blunt-and-correct review of Stranger last fall. When I finally Netflixed it recently, I kept thinkling back to your review, pointing out the total lack of a believeable set of rules for the fantasy premise, and agreeing profusely.

Finally, calling Ferrell a better actor than Bill Murray borders on sacrilege.

Posted by Chris Molanphy at March 25, 2007 6:48 PM

comment #6

rocco says ...

Owen Wilson? The whole "frat pack" is done. They were kinda like cheap booze you could get your hands on in college--Mad Dog 20/20 and the like...damn if they weren't fun for a while...and then you grow up.

Just watched 'Bottle Rocket' the other night....laughed my fucking ass off with nearly every word Wilson said...easily one of my most easily recalled favorite performances...the guy peaked in obscurity (although Scorsese at least pegged it as one of his top-10 of the '90s)

Unlike Jeff, I enjoyed 'Stranger Than Fiction' becuase I forced myself to ignore the unanswered metaphysical aspects...Ferrell was amusing as JW acknowledges, but James is off her rocker if she thinks he's a better "actor" than Murray. I agree with Wells...he sucked the life out of 'Wedding Crashers,' although by that point I was shifting in my seat so much I managed to pop a spring...

Posted by rocco at March 25, 2007 6:51 PM

comment #7

Arran says ...

Loved Stranger Than Fiction, thought Ferrell was fantastic in it...but really? Better than both Bill Murray and Jim Carrey as a dramatic actor? The dude's on crack.

If you really want to see an eerie double, look at Ferrell next to Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

Posted by Arran at March 25, 2007 7:15 PM

comment #8

jesse says ...

I don't know that Ferrell is the best actor of that "comedians gone serious" group -- he has yet to give a performance that touches Carrey's in Eternal Sunshine or Murray's in any number of movies. But then again, he's only done a handful of movies with serious overtones, and none of them were very good (he's fine in Stranger Than Fiction, but it's not a good movie, the reasons for which have little-to-nothing to do with Jeff's metaphysical questions). But he's a wonderful comedic actor, and his appearance is one of his greatest assets -- he doesn't have that slobbish aw-shucks Sandler thing going, but he truly has no vanity about his comedy. He commits to his characters without the same degree of rehashing that goes on with Stiller, Wilson, or Carrey (who can all be very funny with the right material).

Also, can I ask again how Jeff can condemn homophobia in comedy while still loving the first three-quarters or two-thirds of Wedding Crashers? Though I don't think it means any real harm, that movie is far more homophobic than anything Ferrell has been in. In Talladega Nights, the *character* is homophobic in a comical way -- yes, some yahoos in the audience will "agree" with that, but some yahoos in the audience will "agree" with a lot of stuff meant as satire in a lot of smart movies. Also, Ferrell's Ricky Bobby voluntarily kisses Jean Girard on the mouth at the end of the movie. I thought that was a wonderful touch and something you don't include if you're truly on the homophobic-yahoo side of things.

I doubt Blades of Glory will be in the Anchorman/Talladega league, but the presence of Ferrell plus Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, and Jenna Fischer make it sound worth checking out to me. You know, since I actually *like* comedies.

Posted by jesse at March 25, 2007 7:23 PM

comment #9

scooterzz says ...

what struck me as most admirable about this movie is that it is just begging for some kind of 'fag' joke and not once do the writers give in....i'm guessing this is why gladd gave it their blessing...
that said, it's pretty gay and i'm betting a good number of ferrell's usual male fans will stay away.......

Posted by scooterzz at March 25, 2007 8:41 PM

comment #10

D.Z. says ...

I just wanted to add that I don't think the gay jokes in themselves are the sole reason for guys staying away, but also the fact that they ice-skate. It's another sport which we Yanks don't really watch-the first one being soccer. Oh, snap! Ferrell was in a soccer flick, too! I guess that means he needs to do comedies around sports which are popular in the U.S. Coincidentally, his next flick revolves around basketball. http://www.beinamovie.com/

Posted by D.Z. at March 25, 2007 8:49 PM

comment #11

PanTheFaun says ...

scooterzz, what movie did YOU see? Half of the movie's humor is attributed to (a) implying certain characters are probably gay due to effeminate lisps, creepy crushes on other men, wearing fur coats, etc, or (b) going for reactions such as "Hahahha! Look how gay they look in that position! Gay funny!"

For the record, I didn't dislike it because it was homophobic, I disliked it because it was trite, overdone and just not funny.

However, I must disagree with Wells about Ferrell and his crew increasing the anti-gay humor-- as a gay, I really felt "Talladega Nights" was a mockery of homophobes, not a mockery of homosexuals themselves. I think that was made pretty clear by him ending a NASCAR movie with an extended male-on-male kiss, even if it wasn't in a positive context (which it was).

"Blades" on the other hand is pretty much all "tee-hee, gays are funny" jokes, and straight boy frat boys (the majority of my screening audience) will show up in droves.

That said, I generally love Ferrell-- this is his first movie I've genuinely disliked besides "Bewitched" (I even cut "Kicking and Screaming" some slack).

Posted by PanTheFaun at March 25, 2007 9:15 PM

comment #12

berkguru says ...

Aree completely, great post

Although he is fantastic in Anchorman and Old School...but crap in the rest

Posted by berkguru at March 25, 2007 10:04 PM

comment #13

christian says ...

like sandler, there's a total lack of sincerity in ferell that works in ANCHORMAN but in his "serious" roles...move along.

Posted by christian at March 25, 2007 10:19 PM

comment #14

scooterzz says ...

uh, pan...i think i saw the same movie you did...i just didn't find it offensive...it wasn't at all hateful, it wasn't at all hurtful and was (at times)funny...
btw-gays ARE funny (and they get rich proving it)...

Posted by scooterzz at March 25, 2007 10:47 PM

comment #15

Geoff says ...

Ferrell was great in Stranger than Fiction. Also great in Anchorman and Old School. But the Stranger than Fiction performance should be enough to make Jeff leave him alone for the time being. We all know what he nagged about with that film anyways so it makes sense for him to dismiss it. Stop freaking out about Will Ferrell.

Posted by Geoff at March 25, 2007 11:34 PM

comment #16

jeffmcm says ...

I like Ferrell too and think there's no reason to 'dread it like the plague'. Tim Allen, yes, Ferrell no.

Posted by jeffmcm at March 26, 2007 12:49 AM

comment #17

scooterzz says ...

jeff--i've been away...please elaborate on the 'dread it like the plague' line....

Posted by scooterzz at March 26, 2007 1:05 AM

comment #18

bmcintire says ...

It's easy to find gay jokes inoffensive if you're not gay. Just as it's pretty easy for non-Jews, -Blacks, -Hispanics, -Asians, etc. to glide past jokes or even mild stereotypes that poke fun at those groups. But redneck/fratboy-types (specifically those with douchebag nicknames likes Thumper and Scooter) will turn out in droves for a movie like BLADES - if only to replenish their portfolio of fag jokes for the watercooler. I had hoped for better from Farrel, but I guess that one needs to continually recognize and lube one's base.

Posted by bmcintire at March 26, 2007 2:12 AM

comment #19

Mike Schaefer says ...

It's still not clear to me from the trailers -- is Heder's character supposed to be gay? Or is he a flamingly prissy guy who turns out to be straight (and is that part of the joke)? If he's gay that would be against Heder's religion, no?

Posted by Mike Schaefer at March 26, 2007 8:14 AM

comment #20

Chicago48 says ...

I can't wait for September to come, that's when the really serious and really good movies get released. So far I'm not feeling this year. It's been reserved for the fan boys and juveniles. Now comes Ferrell - who I wholeheartedly agree with Jeff Wells - another insanely juvenile movie. I can't stand these new comics on screen. I can't stand their material and the audience they aim it at. The really good writers - Tina Fey & Steve Martin - have taken a hiatus from writing for film. Does anybody remember Mean Girls - brilliant! Bowfinger? - brilliant. This new silly frilly stuff is just boring.

Posted by Chicago48 at March 26, 2007 8:52 AM

comment #21

scooterzz says ...

bm--i love the fact that your plea for tolerance is punctuated with insults aimed at someone's name...it's kind of stunning, actually.....

Posted by scooterzz at March 26, 2007 9:35 AM

comment #22

Craig Kennedy says ...

Glad to see a few hearty souls standing up for the much maligned Stranger than Fiction. I'm doubtful about Blades of Glory, but I must admit I had a few laughs during the trailer. Homophobia isn't really a hot button issue with me...it neither really amuses nor offends...but Ferrell's clueless, unjustified arrogance comic schtick hasn't gotten old for me yet.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at March 26, 2007 9:45 AM

comment #23

Rich S. says ...

Will Ferrell is an interesting case for me. I never "got" him on SNL and his first few movies left me utterly cold. I'm even in the minority as one who doesn't particularly like Old School.

The weird thing is, though, if he's in the right vehicle, I think he's incredibly funny. I liked him in Wedding Crashers and thought he was great in Elf. I thought Anchorman and Ricky Bobby were absolutely hilarious.

But the "up" curve is not uniform. Kicking and Screaming was dreadful (why anyone gives Robert Duvall a pass for that disaster, I'll never know). This new one looks like it could be just as bad. I saw Ferrell on ESPN last night doing a mock critique of Peyton Manning SNL and promoting Blades and I think he knows this movie is a dud. Maybe it's no coincidence that K&S and Blades are both late Spring releases, while Anchorman and "Reeky Bubby" were both mid- to late summer.

Posted by Rich S. at March 26, 2007 11:10 AM

comment #24

Dublin101 says ...

Just chiming in my agreement. The Blades of Glory trailer reeks of homophobia. The cinema where I saw the trailer was full of snickering teenagers who were thinking, "Oh my God, Will Ferrell has his face stuck in Napoleon Dynamite's crotch, that's so fucking funny."

I don't hate Ferrell but he is overexposed. Take a year off Will, follow the example of Mike Myer's.

Posted by Dublin101 at March 26, 2007 12:53 PM

comment #25

Terry McCarty says ...

Dublin 101 wrote:
I don't hate Ferrell but he is overexposed. Take a year off Will, follow the example of Mike Myer's.

It won't happen because the current generation of male comedy talent (i.e. Steve Carell) is following the example of post-PULP FICTION John Travolta in taking everything out of fear that "a year off" will mean no more offers a year later.

Posted by Terry McCarty at March 26, 2007 2:01 PM

comment #26

jeffmcm says ...

Anybody who thinks Ferrell is making homophobic movies obviously didn't see Talladega Nights - and these jokes about masculinity under siege are a lot less offensive than any of the smirking homophobia in 300 or Wild Hogs.

Posted by jeffmcm at March 26, 2007 2:15 PM

comment #27

Earl Hofert says ...

But Adam Sandler calling Don Cheadle "faggot" a whole bunch of time as a jest is rich with comedic and dramatic invention, eh? Just checking.

(Actually, Blades isn't too bad--it is pretty ramshackle but I give it a pass because a.)when the jokes are funny, they are really funny b.) it is shorter than Talladega Nights an c.) it gives us the sight of Jenna Fischer in trashy lingere)

Posted by Earl Hofert at March 26, 2007 3:30 PM

comment #28

christian says ...

ferell's shtick is wearying, especially his interviews which consist of him making the same funny faces and deprecating comments. yawn. this movie looks like a step back to NIGHT AT THE ROXBURY.

Posted by christian at March 26, 2007 4:46 PM

comment #29

16666 says ...

When I first saw Will Ferell, I thought 'Hey, I didn't know Wayne Rogers was making a comeback.' It's been years since House Calls.

Posted by 16666 at March 26, 2007 7:00 PM

comment #30

Terry McCarty says ...

Face it, Will Ferrell's work with Adam McKay will be considered in subsequent generations as comic masterworks on a par with the Jerry Lewis films directed by Frank Tashlin.

Posted by Terry McCarty at March 27, 2007 1:04 AM

comment #31

nakedmanatee says ...

Ferrell's goofy mug should lend itself well to comedy, no?
At any rate, I find Ferrell no better or worse than any of the other comedic actors out there. Sometimes he's really funny (Elf, parts of Anchorman), other times not so much (Wedding Crashers).
In his favor, he's usually very funny on talk shows.

Posted by nakedmanatee at March 27, 2007 5:24 AM

comment #32

bmcintire says ...

Scooter, sweetheart, there is a vast and unrepentantly fat line betweeen someone's name and a nickname - with maturity being the general barometer of whether or not you choose to accept and revel in it. I've never been able to grasp the whole blog/gamer fascination with using cutesy monikers, but God help you if you actually go by "Scooter" in the real world, the Bush fraternity ("Brownie," "Scooter" et al) being the object lesson on that one.

Posted by bmcintire at March 27, 2007 8:53 PM

comment #33

scooterzz says ...

your failure to grasp something really shouldn't be a problem to anyone but you (sweetheart)....let's agree that i'm just 'scooterz' and you're just 'BM' (and you can't get more 'brownie' than that)...it sure works for me...

Posted by scooterzz at March 28, 2007 1:35 AM

comment #34