BuzzSugar

Buzz In: Which Movies Could Have Good Sequels?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 07:30:29 -0700

There's been talk of an Anchorman sequel for some time, and now according to Will Ferrell, they're starting to have more concrete discussions about what this second Anchorman would entail. Many of you said in the past that you'd welcome a sequel about Ron Burgundy, and I think I would, too.

More often than not, news of sequels only causes widespread groaning, since we all know most sequels can't even come close to being as good as the first film. But then there are others - like the possible Zoolander sequel - that are not too hard to imagine. What other movies might lend themselves to fun sequels? I think the eerie Cloverfield easily allows for future movies set in various cities with other menacing threats. And I personally enjoyed Isla Fischer's Becky Bloomwood in Confessions of a Shopaholic so much that I'd love to see her in the same role again. What do you think?

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Semi-Pro: Funny Little Shorts, Same Old Jokes

BuzzSugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:30:00 -0800

By now the Will Ferrell formula is apparent: Find some job or sport or fashion era that has loads of inherent humor, give the main character some insurmountable challenge to face, and . . . action! This time it's basketball in the 1970s. Not that I’m complaining, really; the movie's predictable laughs are still laughs.

In Semi-Pro we find Will Ferrell shoving his gigantic, blindingly white self into a super tight unflattering outfit - not unlike the gimmicky tight costumes in Blades of Glory, only this time it's a basketball uniform. The movie follows one-hit wonder Jackie Moon's (Ferrell) team, the Flint Michigan Tropics, as they fight for a place in the NBA. Though the Ferrell train sometimes seems to be running out of steam, I still think it's worth jumping on board one more time with this movie. I'll tell you why if you read more.

Jackie Moon scored a major hit with his slow jam "Love Me Sexy" and used the profits from the song's success to give Flint a team in the ABA, a struggling national basketball league known more for publicity stunts rather than athleticism. When the ABA is threatening to fold, the commissioner warns that only the best teams will get to merge into the NBA.

Jackie Moon is better at promoting his team with stunts like bear wrestling than coaching, so he brings on board a former champion Ed Monix (a seriously spray-tanned Woody Harrelson) to help whip them into shape. Moon also relies heavily on his team's star, Clarence "Coffee" Black (played by the excellent André Benjamin from Outkast).

I have to say, this is an interesting addition to Ferrell's canon. I can't believe I'm going to type this, but Semi-Pro stands apart from his other movies because most of the supporting characters are deeply appealing and have a shocking amount of depth. I actually found myself caring about this story. Oddly, I found that Ferrell himself sometimes got in my way of enjoying the movie, his goofball act being more miss than hit this time around.

Ultimately, it's the ensemble cast that makes this movie worthwhile. In particular, Will Arnett and MADtv's Andrew Daly made me laugh much more than any prolonged shot of Ferrell's crotch did. Semi-Pro as a whole is a good ride, but it also signaled to me that it's time for Ferrell to head back to the drawing board and give us something new. Here's hoping this summer's Step Brothers will be just the thing to shake things up.

Photos courtesy of New Line Cinema

Would You Want to See an Anchorman 2?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:30:00 -0800

According to a post on FilmSchoolRejects, Will Ferrell stated at a recent event that he has been thinking of bringing his Anchorman character, Ron Burgundy, back to the big screen for a sequel.

What do you think about an Anchorman sequel? Can you handle more of this guy who is, "kind of a big deal"? Would you only want to see it if Ferrell's costars Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd and Steve Carell were also to return?

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Movie Night: Will Ferrell Movies

BuzzSugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:57:47 -0700

Will Ferrell's endearing, off-kilter acting style seems to have spawned its own genre: call it, simply, the Will Ferrell Movie. While I find too-similar routines obnoxious in some actors, Ferrell movies are often so easily digestible that I crave them when I need a lighthearted film fix. In honor of Ferrell's latest triumph, Blades of Glory, I thought I'd pay tribute to the man in this week's Movie Night.

Old School
On the surface, this "dude buddy" kind of movie sounds kind of repellent, but whether it's the clever script or Ferrell's inoffensive demeanor, I absolutely love Old School. Frustrated by the realities of adulthood, three buddies in their 30s (including a priceless Vince Vaughn) create their own fraternity, partially to keep from being evicted by the ornery dean. What's funny is that these aging college friends are still desperately trying to "fight the man" when they are at a point where they could easily be "the man." It's silly, ridiculous, and easy to watch.

For my other favorite Ferrell movies, read more

Elf
What I like most about watching Will Ferrell is how honest and childlike he seems, and in Elf, his enthusiasm is infectious. Ferrell plays Buddy, a man raised by Santa's elves who strikes out to find his real father in Manhattan. Zooey Deschanel is great as the department-store elf who befriends the awkward Buddy. No matter what time of year it is, you will find yourself filled with good cheer after this film.

Anchorman
Sure, I'm as sick of guys quoting this movie as the next girl, but it doesn't dampen my enjoyment of the film itself, which I think is surprisingly funny. Sure, Anchorman lacks focus - about halfway through, it feels like actors are making things up as they go along - but Ferrell's regal newsman and his bumbling crew (Paul Rudd, Steve Carell) make it worth watching, even repeatedly.

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