Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Eurovision Song Contest review says Will Ferrell’s cheeky take on a European institution strikes the right chord.

First of all, you need to know just how humongous the Eurovision Song Contest is across the pond. I’d say it’s the biggest TV event of the year, maybe the equivalent of the Super Bowl for us, and it has been for more than 60 years. When I lived in Spain, the entire country closed down on the nights it was broadcast.

In essence, each country sends its brightest musical artist (predominantly pop) to compete for the coveted title. It’s as simple as that. I don’t know why we haven’t come up with an inner state pop competition like this, but after seeing Will Farrell and Rachel McAdams as a hapless duo from Iceland hilariously competing, I’m sure it’s only a matter  of months before an American version comes live to a small screen near you.

If media coverage of just about everything is dragging you down, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is just what you need. Ferrell, as the leotard wearing, talent-free guy with a dream, and McAdams, as his golden voiced bandmate who for some unfathomable reason has a crush on him, will lighten things up and have you giggling in the first two minutes.

Directed by David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers) the comedy endures. Throw in Dan Stevens as an operatic Russian, Pierce Brosnan as Ferrell’s cantankerous dad, and Demi Lovato as last year’s winner, and you have laughs for days. I dare you to keep a straight face when you see them perform, or when you hear phrases like “a personal submersible”

Now I haven’t spoken with people from Iceland to see how they feel about the depiction of their country. Something tells me it will leave them cold. It may not be politically correct to say this, but it sure does feel good to have so much raucous fun at their expense—especially in  what appears to be one extraordinarily long, hot summer. Watch it now on Netflix.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Eurovision Song Contest review says Will Ferrell’s cheeky take on a European institution strikes the right chord.