Will Ferrell has a couple of exciting projects in the pipeline. He’s co-starring with Ryan Reynolds in a musical version of Barbie movie, rumored to be the CEO of Mattel. In the meantime, there are plenty of existing Ferrell performances to rewatch.
Many of Ferrell’s movies have stood the test of time to become comedy classics. There’s no limit to the number of times a movie like Step Brothers can be enjoyed.
Blades Of Glory (2007)
Ferrell lampooned the world of figure skating in Blades of Glory. He shares great chemistry with Jon Heder as rivals-turned-reluctant partners. After being banned from competing in the sport individually, their mutually resentful characters find a loophole in the system that would allow them to compete as a pair.
Blades of Glory sets up its premise nice and succinctly so it can dive into the slippery slapstick and the biting bickering between Ferrell and Heder.
Megamind (2010)
The animated gem Megamind is a sharp superhero satire that begs an interesting what-if question: what if Lex Luthor succeeded in killing Superman? It’s a surprisingly dark premise for a family-friendly film, but Megamind has a great answer to this question: without an arch-nemesis around to foil their evil plans, the supervillain would quickly get bored.
The parallel backstories of Megamind and Metro Man explore what would happen if Kal-El and Brightburn arrived on Earth at the same time. The movie has a lot of fun with superhero mythology, but Megamind’s character arc carries the message that everybody should strive to do good.
The Other Guys (2010)
Saturday Night Live collaborator Adam McKay. It’s a delightfully ludicrous spin on the familiar “buddy cop” formula with over-the-top action sequences and a laugh-a-minute gag rate.
The role of mild-mannered police ant Allen Gamble made terrific use of Ferrell’s talents as a deadpan “straight man” opposite Mark Wahlberg as a hypercompetent yet disgraced cop who accidentally shot Derek Jeter.
Zoolander (2001)
Ferrell gives an unforgettable turn as the villainous Mugatu in Zoolander, a pitch-perfect satire of the vapid fashion industry. Ben Stiller, who also directed and co-wrote the film, plays the titular male model, who gets swept up in a conspiracy to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Zoolander is full of classic gags that never get old on rewatches: “It’s that damn Hansel... he’s so hot right now,” “What is this? A center for ants!?”
The Lego Movie (2014)
When a feature film based on the Lego toy line was announced, most moviegoers thought it was an unnecessary business measure to cash in on the toys’ popularity. But in the hands of The Lego Movie turned out to be one of the most inspired, entertaining, and surprisingly profound animated movies ever made.
It’s a fast-paced adventure with witty dialogue and lovable characters, and its unexpected midpoint twist provides a thought-provoking meditation on existentialism.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Ferrell and McKay’s follow-up to Anchorman marked their first collaboration with John C. Reilly. The chemistry between the two actors is endlessly watchable in Talladega Nights, a wonderfully absurdist romp about the rise, fall, and re-rise of a legendary NASCAR driver.
Ricky Bobby is threatened by the arrival of a French F1 racer who might be even better than him, played by the great Sacha Baron Cohen. McKay and Ferrell follow the familiar structure of a sports movie and take every traditional plot beat to the most ridiculous Nth degree.
Elf (2003)
On paper, Elf shouldn’t work. It’s a fish-out-of-water comedy about a grown man who believes he’s one of Santa’s elves going to New York City to meet his long-lost father. But it works beautifully because of Ferrell’s steadfast commitment to the bit.
Not only does Elf’s oddball premise work wonders; it’s also a truly heartwarming story. In the years since its release, Elf has become a staple of Christmas movie nights.
Step Brothers (2008)
A couple of years after Talladega Nights became a hit, Ferrell, Reilly, and McKay reunited for another brilliantly absurdist buddy comedy. Step Brothers received more mixed reviews from critics than Talladega Nights, but it’s since earned cult classic status. This is a movie whose only goal from beginning to end is to make the audience laugh.
There are plenty of hilarious moments that get even funnier on every viewing, from the job interview montage to Derek and his family singing an a cappella rendition of Guns ‘n’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine.”
Old School (2003)
Frank “The Tank” is one of the early roles that made Ferrell an A-list movie star. Luke Wilson leads Old School as a down-on-his-luck everyman who has to start his own college fraternity to keep the lease on his new house. Wilson gives a hilarious reactionary performance and Vince Vaughn is great as the overconfident friend who encourages his frat-bro antics.
But Ferrell is the standout ing player as Frank, the former party animal who goes back off the deep end when his friend starts a frat. With classic gags like the streaking sequence and the tranquilizer dart in Frank’s neck, this movie holds up to countless rewatches.
Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Ferrell and McKay first brought their zany SNL sensibility to the big screen in Anchorman. There’s an infinite number of hysterical bits in this movie, from Ron’s meltdown in “a glass case of emotion” to the news team fight followed by the self-aware “That escalated quickly!” evaluation.
The Legend of Ron Burgundy is frequently included on lists of the greatest comedies ever made. Its all-out absurdity and relentless laughter rate have been compared to Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
