Some funny parts, but not his best

Rating: 5/10 (5 August 2006)

I saw it last night, and I did not think it was terrible, but by all means was not the best Will Ferrell movie that I've seen. There are quite a few glimpses of the crazy Ferrell from his SNL days, and it is clear that he is having a very good time making this movie. There are some funny parts, but a lot of the humor plays on really old devices, e.g. his kids being foul-mouthed, disrespectful hooligans (you know -- it's funny to hear kids use profanity, right?). The movie is fairly predictable, but let's face it -- we're not going for an Academy Award winner here. Yes, there are entertaining parts, but I would say that Anchorman was a funnier movie with more unexpected bits of humor.
My nine-year-old wanted to see it because of the many previews he'd seen on TV and at the theater. I am glad that I did not take him because there's a fairly good bit of mild-to-moderate profanity and more sexual humor than I care to have to explain to him at this point.
Bottom line -- was it worth it? Yes, because I went with good friends and it was a packed house. But, minus the atmosphere, I would have waited to see it in a second-run theater or on DVD.