#firesaga

Same with Husavik - My Hometown. People love ~emotional ballads~ (see: Euphoria, Sound of Silence, Only Teardrops, etc) and they love pro-Europe songs and it's such a sweet, touching song.

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga has flaws who say I shouldn’t call it good but I defy them. The film is too long and it would’ve been easy to trim. You must also consider what works. There are big laughs throughout, the stars have terrific chemistry, and the soundtrack is damn catchy.

As Iceland prepares their submission for the Eurovision Song Contest, a series of unlikely events reduce their applicants down to Fire Saga, featuring best friends Lars Erickssong (Will Ferrell) and Sigrit Ericksdóttir (Rachel McAdams). No one else has any faith in them but their passion might just prove everyone wrong.

We’re used to seeing Will Ferrell teamed up with John C. Reilly but he and Rachel McAdams are so good together I hope they become Gary Sanchez Productions’ go-to couple. They're dunderheads but different enough for this to feel new. You understand why they've stuck together all these years and why Sigrit secretly pines for her co-star, why she hopes Lars fulfilling his dream will take their relationship to the next level. She’s just loopy enough to be in his tier but she’s not a complete woman-child. Taken out of her tiny town and exposed to people who recognize her talent and prove there’s a big world out there, the rift that threatens to tear Fire Saga apart is genuine. Hopefully the family of elves she unflinchingly believes in will ensure a happy ending.

There’s this running gag where other contestants keep asking if Lars and Sigrit are siblings and they answer “probably not”. I think the film is playing with the very real concern Icelandic couples have of discovering they're related but it's never adequately developed. This joke's final punchline comes out of nowhere and doesn't work either. The “villain”, played by Mikael Persbrandt, plays an important role but is so clumsily inserted he feels unnecessary. Some of the dramatic “Is this the end of Fire Saga?” moments also should’ve been eliminated. Focus on the competition instead. Would've been easy. The soundtrack features several catchy tunes you’ll be happy to include in your library either because they’re genuinely good or because the memories of their performances made you smile. Dan Stevens plays Alexander Lemtov, a flamboyant Russian singer whose Lion of Love number is a lot of fun. It even has a bit of a message that shows this movie IS smart but self-indulgent.

Like so many films we were supposed to see theatrically but wound up on streaming services this year, this film necessitates a grade on a curve. There are many misses in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga but it’s something new, you’ll be comfortably, safely, and affordably watching, with big stars (Pierce Brosnan and Demi Lovato also appear). Being able to rewind it anytime to hear the songs again does mean a lot too. The leads are a great team and the occasional moments of intelligence and wit make this musical comedy worth seeing. (September 3, 2020)