A pleasant surprise during the COVID-19 pandemic, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga felt like one of the films from Ferrell’s absurdly good 2000s run.

Full Review | Aug 21, 2023

Full of original bops and gorgeous scenery, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is sweet and uplifting and everything Pitch Perfect 3 wished it could’ve been.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Jan 21, 2023

Much like the contest itself, one might go into the film full of scorn and scepticism. However it is nigh-on impossible not to be swept up in the sheer enthusiasm it has for its subject.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 12, 2022

Will Ferrells latest foray, this time into the flamboyant intrigue of the Eurovision Song Contest, falls strangely flat.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 23, 2022

For every scattered eye-roll moment there are two scenes that will bring a smile or a laugh. And any opportunity to see McAdams once again doing straight comedy is a major plus.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 20, 2022

A profoundly and honestly idiotic movie. But not in a negative or frustrating way: it knows what it is, embraces the silliness it is underneath it all. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | May 19, 2022

If you don't think a joke where the characters perform a 'song-a-long' is funny, it's probably best if you look for a different way to spend two hours.

Full Review | Jun 5, 2021

Campy set pieces and dodgy accents form the basis of Will Ferrell's tone-deaf but enjoyable Europop romp.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 11, 2021

Part of what makes Eurovision so fun is that it takes itself exactly the right amount of seriously. Lars (and by extension Sigrit) is an underdog you can root for, but unlike so many of Ferrell's characters, he's not a complete and total buffoon.

Full Review | Mar 19, 2021

Funny stretches are too few and far between, the viewer really needing to adore the music-filled backdrop of this romp to get the most out of it.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Feb 28, 2021

It's a little too loving of Eurovision's kitschy spectacle to be a satire; a little too sincere to be truly silly, despite Ferrell's ridiculous hair and even more outlandish sweaters.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 29, 2021

123 minutes is a murderous length of time for a comedy.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jan 16, 2021

This is an inherently stupid movie, but it's a Will Ferrell comedy about Eurovision, so you really shouldn't be too surprised.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jan 15, 2021

It's exactly as silly and outlandish as it needs to be, while still paying sincere respect to one of Europe's great cultural quirks.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 9, 2020

Not a film so much as two hours of lump-free, vaguely film-like audiovisual paste.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Nov 22, 2020

Too long and only fitfully funny. Although it may appeal to a narrow audience of Will Farrell fans who also know a lot about Icelandic culture.

Full Review | Nov 3, 2020

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is an unabashedly goofy, joy-filled, and good-hearted film.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.0/4.0 | Aug 30, 2020

A mostly earnest love letter to the competition's madness, albeit an ode of affection spread over a very uneven two hours.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 19, 2020

Just like the real song contest, it's all a bit silly, goes on far too long and is predictable to a fault. But there's also no denying its warmth, energy and quirkiness, which makes it simply great fun to watch.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 13, 2020

The movie's main failure is Ferrell, who's too old and too far removed from his Elf heyday to be using the same faux naïf notes...

Full Review | Aug 7, 2020