I really like John C. Reilly
I do admire Will Ferrell
However, with the reviews and the external news reports I’m getting on “Holmes & Watson,” I don’t think I’ll waste my time on it.
When respected (by me) media site AV Club reports “Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly hit career lows in the abysmally unfunny Holmes & Watson,” this ought to be a wakeup call to someone.
Straight-industry-news website “Deadline” reported dismal audience response “… however audience gave the Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly PG-13 comedy a D+. which is lower than Ferrell’s Zoolander 2 (C+) and Land of the Lost (C+).” And last year — remember ” last holiday season’s comedy Father Figures, which tanked with a final gross of $17.5M.” ?
That can’t be enough for a profit.
“Deadline” reports: “We had heard for quite some time that test scores for Holmes & Watson were so bad that Sony tried unloading the movie to Netflix, but the streamer wouldn’t buy it.”
“Rotten Tomatoes” gave it a 9% favorable (critics) rating and a 27% favorable (audience) score.
“Rolling Stone’s” reviewer said, “It’s so painfully unfunny we’re not sure it can legally be called a comedy.”
“The Wrap” sums it up nicely: “Stan and Ollie (Reilly plays Oliver Hardy) is a movie about a comedy duo that has seen better days, while Holmes & Watson merely stars one.”
Where have the formerly-great gone wrong?
Well, perhaps Ferrel’s judgment isn’t the best. After all, he told “Altpress.com” (Headline): WILL FERRELL ADMITS HE THOUGHT ‘ELF’ WOULD RUIN HIS CAREER.
That was made 15 years ago and is now a Christmas perennial.
Even his “Funny Or Die”schtick is getting criticized. “The Daily Beast” sniped: ” ‘The Campaign’: Will Ferrell Phones It In . Will Ferrell’s new movie The Campaign is perfectly fine—but Richard Rushfield wishes the once inventive comedian would try harder.”
At least Reilly is getting some respect for his Extra-Ferrell work, like “Stan and Ollie” and “Ralph Wrecks The Internet.”
But we’ve seen the greats who seem to lose direction and wander off into their own little space/time continuum — sometimes never to return. Jerry Lewis, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler … and the list could go on.
Let’s hope for a pleasant surprise — and the return of Will Ferrell’s funnybone someday.
Comments on Where’s The Comedy? Holmes & Watson Couldn’t Find It.
Rotten Tomatoes is down to 7% as of the last time I checked! What a wonderful movie.
I have been witnessing Ferrell’s comedic unraveling on multiple late night talk shows where gimmicky makeup and not so funny disguises dominate his non SNL comedy. Perhaps he was employing distractions to mask the absence of a real act, where previously as a comedic foil on SNL his act was was framed by cleverly scripted skits and co-stars. John C. Reilly on the otherhand is not only funny, but also compelling, especially as dramatic actor. Once I had acquired a taste for the odd comedic tone on his quirky 15 minute improv cable show, Check It Out, I returned each week for the latest installment. It is comedy at it’s brainless best. His body of work as a dramatic actor is something to be proud of where his friend Ferrel has no such legacy. Does he think that he needs Will to help burnish his comedic bonafides?