As a Eurovision fan, I was highly sceptical. An American comedy star writing and leading in a movie about a subject many people, especially here in Britain, make light of? Surely it was going to be a highly misleading caricature of the show some of us have grown to love?
Will Ferrell plays one half of the duo 'Fire Saga', along with Rachel McAdams and what transpires, (despite a few factual inaccuracies easily noticeable to the esteemed fan), is a story of two geeky Icelandic musicians making it all the way to the Eurovision Grand Final, albeit with a few hiccups along the way.
The film doesn't end as one would expect for a film of this manner, but the story does encapsulate everything a feel good story should and indeed captures the real meaning of Eurovision perfectly. The underdogs go from laughing stock to Europe-wide sweethearts - with suitable interjections from our very own Graham Norton - and at the end, you're left with goosebumps and a big smile across your face.
No one believes in this pair. Despite Sigrit Ericksdottir (McAdams) having a stunning voice, the duo are consigned to singing stupid songs in their town's only beat up bar. Every year, Lars Erikssong (Ferrell), submits a song to the Songvakeppnin (that's the show that Iceland has to choose it's Eurovision act), and every year, he hears nothing back.
Until, by chance, he and Sigrit are invited to the show in a "lucky" scenario and then reach the actual Song Contest by an even luckier scenario, which becomes the one gruesome moment of the film that makes you jump slightly, much to the delight of Lars and the derision of his Father...
The movie has a familiar narrative, the two dreamers concealing their love for one another, claiming the music is the only thing that connects them, but although the film is based around the pair and their bizarrely odd exploits, there are two other performances that stand out throughout the two hours.
Pierce Brosnan, (yes, James Bond himself), plays Lars' strict, disparaging Father who is openly ashamed of his performing son, claiming he makes a mockery of him and embarrasses him at every turn. Hearing a faux-Icelandic accent from a man I first saw play a suave British spy was a tad odd, but his character adds to the feel-good aesthetic that makes this movie.
However, the stand out performer for me was Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, Legion, Night at The Museum). He plays the Russian act, Alexander Lemtov; the self-acclaimed favourite of the competition, and his act is suitably homoerotic to derive sniggers from the LGBT+ community, of which Russia are of course no fans of.
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| Gay dear? Me dear? No dear! |
It does have a couple of (very) minor flaws, only noticeable if you have an intricate knowledge of the workings of Eurovision but this is entirely forgivable and also a wonderful interlude featuring real Eurovision acts from days gone by at a VIP party.
From Loreen to Conchita, from Netta to John Lundvik and Alexander Rybak's violin, the three minute mash up of Eurovision and pop hits is a real singalong highlight and a big tick for the Eurovision fans watching on; and maybe provides a brief glimpse of what happens behind the scenes of our beloved song contest.
As a stand alone film, and (hopefully) without my Eurovision fan bias hat on, this film puts a smile on your face and is a cracking story of the underdog. It doesn't quite get douze points, but a very solid 8 points from me.
