I Wasn't the Right Audience

Rating: 4/10 (7 July 2020)

Review:
'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga' is a musical comedy film directed by David Dobkin. The film follows Icelandic singers Lars Erickssong (Will Farrell) and Sigrit Ericksdóttir (Rachel McAdams) as they are given the chance to represent their country at the Eurovision Song Contest.
A movie that has a better soundtrack then it does story, that's this movie. I didn't go into it with the highest of expectations, the trailers didn't get me excited at all, but the star power of Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams was strong enough to get a viewing from me.
With me basically watching this movie because of its stars, I was hoping they would be as good as they are in other films, but they are a massive let down in this. Will Ferrell's comedic presence was very flat, and he was not his charismatic self he can be. Rachel McAdams was better to watch her work on screen, but her Icelandic accent was horrid, and it always throws me off when they get an actress that doesn't sing the material with their co-star. Will Ferrell was singing in the film where Rachel McAdams parts to dubbed over by a professional singer. This was also the case with Dan Stevens character, but he was able to provide a better and bigger on-screen presence then the two leads in the film, and that's another problem.
This may be yet another film that just wasn't made to be viewed by myself. It is getting very good reviews both critically and by audiences saying it is a good representation of how important Eurovision is. I just don't feel that it was made to be a comedy because it didn't have any jokes that landed to me and they possibly should have had actual Icelandic actors in the film. I will say that the ending of the film was beautiful and had my eyes glued to the screen, but it also feels like it should have been in a different film.
Overall, this movie was a miss for me, but am I only one of many reviewers. There are also some sad moments in the film which I love, but they are very subtle, and you will miss them if you don't pay attention. Maybe if you don't go into this movie expecting it to be funny or a typical Will Ferrell film it will come off as a better film. It was better than 'Holmes and Watson', but that's the best thing I can say about this film.
2/5