Review: Everything Must Go

     Comedic actors have a long history of trying their hand at serious roles. Bill Murray did Lost in Translation, Steve Martin did Shopgirl, Adam Sandler did Punch-Drunk Love. Will Ferrell is no stranger to making serious movies. His films Winter Passing and Stranger Than Fiction showcase the comedian's dramatic chops. They show that the actor who is most famous for his over the top characters like Ron Burgundy and Ricky Bobby is capable of delivering a measured performance with adequate depth. 2010's Everything Must Go, is Ferrell's most recent foray into drama. It's not the first time he's played an alcoholic (see: Old School), but it is the first time he has played a depressing alcoholic. A man that has lost his job, his wife, and is being forced to start over.

     The film begins with the end of Nick Halsey's (Will Ferrell) sales career. Despite being one of the company's best salesmen, his excessive drinking has cost him his job, and when he gets home that day he finds out it has also cost him his wife. Ferrell doesn't play Halsey as an out of control drunk, but simply as a contained man whose drinking has taken priority in his life. When he returns home, he also finds all of his belongings out on the front lawn, and the locks on his house have been changed. He also finds that his credit cards and joint banking account have been locked. In one day, Halsey loses his job, his job, and access to his money. He reacts to this situation by buying some beer with what cash he has left on him and relaxing in the La-Z-Boy on his front lawn. Fortunately for Halsey, the weather in Arizona is pretty mild. Eventually, the neighbors start to complain and the cops show up. Halsey argues that he has the right to do as he pleases with his own yard, but the cops won't tolerate his drunken conduct. Fortunately for Halsey his AA sponsor (Michael Pena) is a police detective and is able to buy him a few days by claiming the mess in Halsey's lawn as a garage sale. A neighborhood kid offers to help Halsey with his yard sale (for a fee of course) and the two bond over selling Nick's possessions.

     The character's here are all handled very well. This film is a character study into Nick Halsey, his addiction, and it's effect on his life, but the supporting cast is also handled very well. It doesn't make much sense that a man should decide to sell every last thing he owns, but it makes sense in this movie as a means for Halsey to help him get over his situation and move on. This movie does get a little boring at times as much of the first half of the film is just Halsey sitting in his recliner, but once the emotions start flowing from him and he takes some initiative, the film picks up. The ending is a little disappointing as it doesn't quite pack the emotional payoff I was expecting. Some insight into what Halsey's plans were now that he only has the profits from his yard sale (as well as, presumably, whatever he gets in the divorce) to his name would have been nice, but on the other hand could have ruined the simplicity of this little story. Despite this film's flaws, the main take away here should be that Will Ferrell is a capable actor no matter what the subject matter or genre may be. I expect to see him do more roles such as this as Mr. Ferrell ages. 

Rating: 7/10 - Moral