Alex Becker
Like any movie list I make, this is going to upset people. However, as a massive Will Ferrell fan I can assure you that this list is correct. I know it won’t feel like it when you read it and see some fan-favorites missing, but that is just inevitable. Sorry Will Ferrell is so talented, it’s not my fault he makes so many amazing movies. In order to appease people, I will include an honorable mention section. I won’t be going in depth on them, but just take it as a note to watch any film that I name. Okay, here we go, prepare to be upset.
Honorable Mentions: Elf, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Get hard, The Campaign, Old School
5. Kicking & Screaming
Yes, I did choose to begin the list with an extremely controversial pick. I have Kicking & Screaming above Elf, which is a pretty hot take in the PG movie landscape. For those of you that think I’m crazy for not including Elf on this list, you need to go re-watch K&S. Not only is it not seasonal, but it’s also just hilarious, especially for a kids movie. Everytime I’m ever playing soccer (rarely), I feel the need to yell “pass it to the Italians,” and so should you. If you don’t fuck with Byong Sun I don’t fuck with you. I exclusively drink half-cafs now and will never go anywhere near a finch. To say the least, Kicking & Screaming has changed me. It’s even brought me and father closer together.
4. Blades of Glory
This movie is where Will really gets to showcase his talented skill set. Sure, he didn’t do most of the ice skating in this movie, but he did some. Everything that wasn’t a real trick or throwing someone up in the air, Will actually did, like swinging Jon Heder between his legs or perfectly nailing choreographed dances on skates. As if ice skating wasn’t enough of a talent, Will also shows off his unmatched sex appeal. Let’s be honest, Will Ferrell is not the most attractive man on the planet. Yet, Chazz Michael Michales is one of the most raw sexual beings ever exhibited on the big screen. That’s how skilled Will is as an actor. All it took was some horse shampoo, spandex, and the flip of a mental switch for Will to turn into a total hunk. If that’s not talent, I don’t know what is.
3. The Other Guys
This is the epitome of a buddy cop comedy. This movie is a classic and it’s not just because of Will Ferrell. Mark Wahlberg’s juxtaposition of the hard exterior cop who shot bi-racial angel Derek Jeter perfectly blends with Will’s role as the nerdy cop who loves paperwork. This is a common theme in buddy cop movies like 21 Jump Street, but The Other Guys does it best. There are so many layers to this movie, not making it complicated, but just adding humor throughout. For example, the way Allen treats his wife Sheila as well as his past as Gator the pimp makes it significantly funnier when he uses a wood gun. Just every minor detail in this movie comes together for perfection. Even, the app that shows a person’s face from the back of their head is mixed into the end. This story is phenomenal and the funny moments are outrageous.
2. Anchorman(s)
So, I am kinda cheating here by including two movies that definitely would have each made the list separately, but they’re technically the same and this gives me an extra spot. If you’ve seen the Anchorman movies you know exactly why these deserve such a high spot on this list. Again, these movies are not solely headlined by Will. The Anchorman movies are fantastic not just because of Ron Burgundy, but the entire News Crew. I mean Brick Tamland is a top 5 movie character of all time. Even Baxter plays an important role in the success of the franchise. So while it’s obvious that these movies make the list, it is more of a debate as to which is better. Personally, I believe that Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is funnier than Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and for a series that relies more heavily on humor than plot, I think that gives it a nudge to the top. I love both movies, but the sequel was just outstanding. From chicken of the cave to Ron’s blindness to all that voodoo shit Anchorman 2 is purely a laughfest of absurdities. Both movies are tremendous and easily some of the funniest films ever made. The only thing more legendary than Ron Burgundy is the epic fight scenes he always finds himself in.
1. Step Brothers
This is my favorite movie of all time. Of all the movies ever made in the history of the planet, this is the best one. As a film major, every semester class always begins by going around the room and saying your favorite movie. Year after year, class after class, I have always answered Step Brothers. I do often get looks and chuckles, despite my seriousness. Many other students will say things like Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction, but they’re just lying to themselves. Those movies aren’t funny at all. Every line in Step Brothers is a joke of some sort. It is nonstop laughter, even in its darkest moments, yet still delivers one of the most heartfelt, emotional endings in movie history, right up there with Casablanca and Marley & Me. I can quote every single line of this film with ease and I think every person on Earth should be able to do the same. It teaches people about friendship, being yourself, and staying young. What a beautiful message told throughout a story of sibling rivalry, job interviews, licking dog shit, and starting one of the largest karaoke chains in the tri-state area.
