There comes an unfortunate time in each year’s Oscar watching at which point I have to watch the films nominated exclusively for best song. While I’ve been unimpressed by quite a few of the films that I’ve watched in the past few days, these films aren’t meant to have any cinematic value, rather just an impressive song. One of these years I’m just going to give up on this category, but it’s not going to be this year.

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020, Dir. David Dobkin)

Why was this movie two hours long? While yesterday I mentioned that I’ve become less cynical when it comes to child centric entertainment, I still have little patience for Will Ferrell and his overly broad comedies. Watching this movie was a trying experience. Will Ferrell is 53 years old and his manchild persona has only gotten more cringeworthy with age. He’s always loud and awkward and prone to misunderstandings, and that’s the joke. It attempts to approximate a fish out of water style of humor, but there’s no reason for a Will Ferrell character to be a fish out of water. It’s just grating and comes across as a little mean.

I don’t have much to say about the film in general. I know that some people like movies like this, but I can’t find any entertainment in it. Even the song for which the film received it’s nomination frustrated me. Molly Sandén who sang for Rachel McAdams has a genuinely great voice, but I was a little isillusioned to learn she’s Swedish. The film couldn’t cast Icelandic actors or singers. Even more frustrating than that, was Will Ferrell’s unimpressive singing voice featured prominently in the song. Nothing worked for me. If I can say one good thing about the film, at least the film about a fictional Icelandic band had the decency to include ample Sigur Rós music.