Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

An enjoyable feel good affair with an adorable Rachel McAdams and a rather tame Will Ferrell. Although the film is not that funny, it is very entertaining, has heart and a strong emotional charge and that is enough for me this time. I liked the Eurovision idea, the songs are very good, the characters are great and the finale, where Rachel sings like a goddess and brings down the house with her voice, made me cry like a baby. The last time I felt that way was with Lady Gaga in A Star is Born. I also liked the setting in Iceland. I had a really good time.Story****, Action>No, Humor***, Violence>No, Entertainment****, Music*****, Visuals****, Atmosphere****, Suspense>No. 8/10. (07/03/2020)

I had no idea about this movie, but thanks to Pam Rabbit’s interview, this registered and I definitely didn't expect it to be such a great piece. Will Ferrell is a favourite of mine, the perfect Rachel McAdams isn't lost here either and if someone had told me that a bland family comedy like this would be so great, I wouldn't have believed it. The theme alone, with Iceland sending its most miserable duo to Eurovision after all the other "better" contestants die in a boat explosion, is excellent. Ferrel and McAdams are the perfect duo, their chemistry is enjoyable and watching two Icelandic rednecks is just phenomenal. We get countless scenes with TERRIBLE humour, pretty much the way Ferrel likes it (the elves are a total top!!) and the film simply entertains. The perfect cherry on the cake is the finale, which manages to caress the soul and made me inwardly cheer as well, and that's a definite achievement for such a flick. Personally, I'm a bit disappointed that the middle third takes the foot off the gas a bit on the entertainment and goes down a rather dramatic route, but this is rectified at the end and until the performance in the finale, it is once again perfect. Objectively a 3*, but I have to add a star here as Ferrel is a god and the fact he pushed his script with totally wacky humour, pulled Rachel into it and made such an enjoyable family trendy comedy just deserves a round of applause. (03/04/2024)

The central storyline has been used through the copy paper many times, and some plot points, such as the actions and motivations of the main villain, seem completely random and written entirely to anger movie-goers. Still, when you watch the awkward out-of-place characters of Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams trying to fulfill their dreams, and Pierce Brosnan’s futile attempt at a Nordic accent, the whole outsider-pop thing has to soften your heart to some extent. This movie is an undemanding no-brainer and at the same time an alright easy-to-follow musical fluff, nothing more, nothing less. (02/15/2021)

Maybe the reason Eurovision won me over was that we haven’t had a cute, self-aware comedy like this for a long time, or because during the boring moments I would dream about putting an engagement ring on the still beautiful and perfect Rachel McAdams and taking her to the altar. Even though there isn’t as much humour as I would expect from Ferrel, its sincere childish tone is very fitting and Dobkin knows his job so well that a cookie-cutter, generic story like this can still be effective. And the tunes are catchy enough… 70% (06/30/2020)

In its adoration of otherness, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is incredibly charming and at times almost subversive; in its soundtrack it is one hundred percent; and yet there is always one misstep for every amazing gag or song. A sculpted Pierce Brosnan recites profound obstructionist wisdom, serious moments last disproportionately long, and the main hero sadly tends to emerge from controversial situations like a blinded selfish person. A few weeks after watching, however, the perfectly cast supporting roles (Dan Stevens, coming across more like Dan Nekonečný) and precisely crafted songs slowly erase most of the cracks and subtly raise the rating. However, I am reserving judgment for the inevitable next viewing. (07/16/2020)