MOVIE OF THE WEEK #2 (5/13/11): EVERYTHING MUST GO

"This is not cool - I just bought these clothes!" Nick Hasley (Will Ferrell) tries to gather his belongings - and his life - in a scene from writer/director Dan Rush's new dramedy EVERYTHING MUST GO.
Credit: John Estes © 2011 Roadside Attractions. All Rights Reserved.

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall, Michael Peña, Christopher Jordan "C.J." Wallace, Stephen Root and Laura Dern

WRITER:Dan Rush (screenplay); Raymond Carver (short story Why Don't You Dance?)

DIRECTOR: Dan Rush

WEB SITE: www.everythingmustgo-themovie.com

THE PLOT: Adapted from Raymond Carver’s short story Why Don’t You Dance?, Everything Must Go stars Will Ferrell as Nick Halsey, an award winning salesman who finds himself in a bit of a pickle. You see, Nick is a recovering alcoholic … Who just got fired from his job after an internal company investigation … Only to come home and discover that everything he owns is gone.

Well, it’s not gone exactly … It’s on the front lawn of the home he shares with his wife (who has also left the house and changed the locks).

Trying to make sense of the situation, Nick eventually tries to make the best of his situation, much to the chagrin of his neighbors like Elliot (Stephen Root). With all his life imploding literally all around him, Nick decides to settle in and literally live on his lawn. It is here that he meets Kenny (Christopher Jordan Wallace, son of the late Notorious B.I.G.), a socially awkward but entrepreneurial young kid with whom Nick strikes up an unexpected business partnership. Also catching his eye is Samantha (Rebecca Hall), a very pregnant East Coast transplant who has recently moved in across the street now waiting on her hubby to join her in their new Arizona home.

While Kenny and Samantha provide nice temporary distractions, Nick cannot escape his problems – especially not when his AA sponsor/local police officer Frank Garcia (Michael Peña) lets him know the deal: He has 5 days to conduct his unexpected yard sale. Nick, reluctant to concede to the harsh reality he now faces, eventually agrees to begin selling his stuff, which forces him to re-evaluate not only some of his fashion choices, but his life.

Nick might not only make a few dollars in the process, but a few new friends, too, en route to finding the happiness that he long had since lost …

THE TAKE: Will Ferrell is a great comedic actor … From Saturday Night Live to Anchorman to newer cult favorites like Step Brothers, his track record of being able to bring big laughs is comparable to just about anyone out on the scene right now. And while he’s dabbled in drama before with Stranger Than Fiction, it’s work like his recent Broadway show/HBO special, You’re Welcome, America: A Final Night with George W. Bush that people are more apt to enjoy.

With Everything Must Go, however, Ferrell might finally start getting the noticed for his dramatic chops … Especially since he gives a performance worthy of Academy Award consideration.

At this point in his career, if there’s a comedic moment, you don’t have to worry about Ferrell nailing it. I mean, if he can carry Mark Wahlberg in The Other Guys, he can pretty much do anything. What Ferrell taps into a great fashion, however, is riding the emotion in the moment when Nick bottoms out or goes into a dark place. Every instance of his pain makes you wonder how he will respond, what will be his breaking point and if he can recover as he maintains a sense of humanity at even the cruelest moments.

Look, just about everyone’s had a moment in their life where they’ve had to – be it physically or emotionally – pick up the pieces and trudge on forward in the most depressing of times. Ferrell’s reaction to his situation is excellent in exploring the troublesome moments of his life and considering that his pain is present in both mental and physical form, that is no small feat. While writer/director Dan Rush does an excellent job at laying out the moment, Ferrell does a great job at seizing it – and those two factors in turn make the movie with help from a great supporting cast.

For all their differences (in terms of height, race and experience in both real life and in the film), Hall and Wallace share a great chemistry with Ferrell that helps lay a foundation for each character’s progression and growth. Instead of treating Kenny like a kid, Ferrell’s character treats him like a person as he does Rebecca, which helps to make both relationships something unique. That in turn provides their relationships a real depth which mutually beneficial to all the characters involved, but the audience’s enjoyment of watching them evolve as well.

Much like the moments in life that we don’t realize how special/important they are because they are so painful at the time, I fear that Everything Must Go may come and go without much fanfare. But I will guarantee this: For all those who discover it, the joy it provides will stay with them long after they leave the theater – and that is the highest compliment I can pay Rush and co.

PARTING SHOT: A film that is equal parts funny and emotionally rich as it is dark and compelling, Everything Must Go is a must see film for all those looking for a great experience at the movies this spring.

RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):