Everything Must Go

While most of us know Will Ferrell as the crazy, silly, over-the-top comedian who is willing to strip down to his tighty whities to get laughs (and does so in almost every movie), underneath all of that, Ferrell has the heart and desire to be a true thespian.

After performing so well in complete bomb movies like Stranger Than Fiction (which you should see on DVD ASAP) and Melinda and Melinda, I had given up hope he would continue to expand his horizons. In Everything Must Go, Ferrell restores my hope, and sends a message to everyone in Hollywood that he can act with the best of them.

Ferrell stars as Nick Halsey - a traveling salesman who is prolific in his ability to sell and drink. The company has given him plenty of opportunities over the years to clean up his act and get on the right track, but the latest allegations about his behavior and alcoholism have led to his termination.

Those allegations also have led his wife to end their marriage on the same day. As Nick arrives back home, he finds all of his life's belongings on the front lawn, and the locks to the house changed, so he can't get inside.

With a life spiraling out of control and neighbors complaining to the police, Nick has been told he has three days to get everything off the front lawn, so he decides to start selling it all.

Will Nick be able to avoid trouble with the police?

Does he want to lose everything he holds dear?

Everything Must Go is more like a character study, without much to study. Writer/director Dan Rush (based on a short story by Raymond Carver) provides many great moments for Ferrell, but the movie leaves the audience wanting too much more. While the situation thankfully is made more complex by Nick's faults and troubles that were brought on by himself, Rush needs to do more than talk around it all. More information, and more background would help flesh out Nick and Everything Must Go.

However, Ferrell is great as the man who has hit rock bottom and wants to hold on to some semblance of dignity. He shows us the man's weaknesses as well as the spirit within him to fight back and try to get his life back together even as his circumstances get worse.

It's worth going to see Everything Must Go just to watch Ferrell in action.

Everything Must Go is rated R for language and some sexual content.