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Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020) reviews from people you don't follow
Decent comedy, though some real liberties taken with Edinburgh's geography
This is a decent comedy following the events leading up to mediocre Icelandic pop duo Fire Saga heading to represent their country at the Eurovision semi-finals. The portrayal of Icelandic people as being quite stupid and backwards and still believing in fairies was maybe a little offensive but added some of the best comedy, and with a silly film like this anyone taking that seriously would have real problems.
The setting of the contest in Edinburgh was a nice touch, as with Infinity War it is always good to see the end product from the annoying road closures. However it didn't make sense, given the hosts were not British and Britain didn't win the contest, but again lets not take this too seriously. The car chase was a mess though, with the car one minute heading one way along a street and shortly appearing at a roundabout at the end behind them. Also, the Glasgow SSE Hydro arena being at the end of George IV Bridge was just all sorts of wrong.
The geographical inconsistencies aside, this is a nice silly little comedy that drags on a little too long with a fairly cliche'd plot.
The setting of the contest in Edinburgh was a nice touch, as with Infinity War it is always good to see the end product from the annoying road closures. However it didn't make sense, given the hosts were not British and Britain didn't win the contest, but again lets not take this too seriously. The car chase was a mess though, with the car one minute heading one way along a street and shortly appearing at a roundabout at the end behind them. Also, the Glasgow SSE Hydro arena being at the end of George IV Bridge was just all sorts of wrong.
The geographical inconsistencies aside, this is a nice silly little comedy that drags on a little too long with a fairly cliche'd plot.
Fairly standard rom-com is mashed up with that episode of Father Ted with 'My Lovely Horse' and slathered in the usual by-now-overfamiliar Will Ferrell ironic sensibility, with results that are not nearly funny enough. Two middle-aged small town freaks get to represent Iceland in the Eurosong contest after a series of unlikely events, but will the pressures of the contest keep them from recognising their true feelings for each other?
What the hell are Americans doing making a movie about Eurovision, anyway? They have clearly done at least some homework, but it's never quite clear if this is meant to be a send-up or a loving tribute (which, to be fair, is often the case with the actual ESC some years). Either way it feels strange, often quite patronising and self-indulgent, and the movie gets enough of the actual details of Eurovision wrong to annoy people who like it. The odd amusing moment and cameo, but not nearly enough in the circumstances: it feels most like Eurovision in the way that it seems to goes on forever, only not in a good way.
What the hell are Americans doing making a movie about Eurovision, anyway? They have clearly done at least some homework, but it's never quite clear if this is meant to be a send-up or a loving tribute (which, to be fair, is often the case with the actual ESC some years). Either way it feels strange, often quite patronising and self-indulgent, and the movie gets enough of the actual details of Eurovision wrong to annoy people who like it. The odd amusing moment and cameo, but not nearly enough in the circumstances: it feels most like Eurovision in the way that it seems to goes on forever, only not in a good way.
Full of Eurovision spirit
I am a big fan of Eurovision, it's a must see event every year and I've even been to see it in person when it was last held in Denmark. Sadly with the cancellation of pretty much everything this year including Eurovision, I've been dying for a bit of cheesy fun and this film *almost* delivers it in the truckload.
This film really knows how to channel the Eurovision spirit. There's a lot of great cheesy songs and costumes, some great over the top performances (Dan Stevens was a hoot) and a decent amount of heart. The songs are very good, from the hilariously cheesy to the impressive ballads. The acting was good although i felt Will Ferrell was a little of a letdown. It was great to see Dan Stevens camping it up though and a nice (but sadly too short) role for Natasia Demetriou from What We Do in the Shadows, and I loved the cameos from existing real life Eurovision acts.
The problem with this film is the humour is lacking when it's not cheesy Eurovision fun. And the jokes that were there fell pretty flat for me. The film is also rather longer than you'd expect and did drag a little in the middle.
I had been expecting a Eurovision spoof comedy, but instead what I got was almost a homage to everything we love about Eurovision. It's not great but definitely an enjoyable bit of fun. I've been debating whether to score this a 6 or 7 and in the end, I've decided to be rather generous as it is a lot of fun.
This film really knows how to channel the Eurovision spirit. There's a lot of great cheesy songs and costumes, some great over the top performances (Dan Stevens was a hoot) and a decent amount of heart. The songs are very good, from the hilariously cheesy to the impressive ballads. The acting was good although i felt Will Ferrell was a little of a letdown. It was great to see Dan Stevens camping it up though and a nice (but sadly too short) role for Natasia Demetriou from What We Do in the Shadows, and I loved the cameos from existing real life Eurovision acts.
The problem with this film is the humour is lacking when it's not cheesy Eurovision fun. And the jokes that were there fell pretty flat for me. The film is also rather longer than you'd expect and did drag a little in the middle.
I had been expecting a Eurovision spoof comedy, but instead what I got was almost a homage to everything we love about Eurovision. It's not great but definitely an enjoyable bit of fun. I've been debating whether to score this a 6 or 7 and in the end, I've decided to be rather generous as it is a lot of fun.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated
Aug 24, 2020
The Story of Fire Saga is EXACTLY what I expected it be. It's so very silly, but it's stupidly entertaining.
The yearly Eurovision Song Contest is the epitome of car crash television. Any lack of merit is made up for by the sheer cheesiness of it all, and it's ultimately not very good, but it's hard to look away.
Fire Saga takes this concept, and just adds Will Ferrell to the mix - arguably perfect casting for a film based on this subject.
Both Ferrell and Rachel McAdams are great, and are willing to poke fun at themselves. Legion's Dan Stevens is fantastic as well.
Some of the songs written for this are just ridiculous. They would fit in seamlessly alongside any real world Eurovision stuff - well written nonsense I guess would be an apt description.
On the surface, Fire Saga may appear silly, it actually possesses a huge amount of heart. Although some (like me) find Eurovision pretty dumb, it clearly means a lot to many people. This is shown off in spades here, and boasts some genuinely emotional plot points. The narrative isn't too dissimilar to Blades of Glory on terms of structure if that helps to picture it.
All in all, The Story of Fire Saga is hugely entertaining, pretty funny, and is brimming with charm. You would have to have a heart of stone to not get something out of it.
The yearly Eurovision Song Contest is the epitome of car crash television. Any lack of merit is made up for by the sheer cheesiness of it all, and it's ultimately not very good, but it's hard to look away.
Fire Saga takes this concept, and just adds Will Ferrell to the mix - arguably perfect casting for a film based on this subject.
Both Ferrell and Rachel McAdams are great, and are willing to poke fun at themselves. Legion's Dan Stevens is fantastic as well.
Some of the songs written for this are just ridiculous. They would fit in seamlessly alongside any real world Eurovision stuff - well written nonsense I guess would be an apt description.
On the surface, Fire Saga may appear silly, it actually possesses a huge amount of heart. Although some (like me) find Eurovision pretty dumb, it clearly means a lot to many people. This is shown off in spades here, and boasts some genuinely emotional plot points. The narrative isn't too dissimilar to Blades of Glory on terms of structure if that helps to picture it.
All in all, The Story of Fire Saga is hugely entertaining, pretty funny, and is brimming with charm. You would have to have a heart of stone to not get something out of it.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020) reviews from people you don't follow
Kevin Phillipson (10022 KP) rated
May 21, 2021
Will ferrell (1 more)
Rachel mcadams
Never been a total fan of eurovision song contest over the years due to absurdity and the campness of it all and why after 60 years why do we still need to hold this contest every year anymore the UK entrant hasn't won 1997 24 wasted years of trying why don't we just give up.
Anyway the movie I laughed so much at the movie that was send up of eurovision and its campness even an apprentice from Grahame Norton sending up himself. Will ferrell is brilliant as the lead with Rachel mcadams as his support not forgetting pierce brosnan and Dan Stevens in support. Overall best euro song contest I've seen in years doest mean I will be watching tomorrow night
Anyway the movie I laughed so much at the movie that was send up of eurovision and its campness even an apprentice from Grahame Norton sending up himself. Will ferrell is brilliant as the lead with Rachel mcadams as his support not forgetting pierce brosnan and Dan Stevens in support. Overall best euro song contest I've seen in years doest mean I will be watching tomorrow night
Bostonian916 (449 KP) rated
Jul 22, 2020
Probably an unpopular opinion, but not a big fan.
Will Ferrell played a very lacking character. I had no interest in seeing him succeed at all. I was invested in Rachel McAdams character but not enough to rescue the weak script.
I really wanted to enjoy this and I'm disappointed I wasn't able to.
Will Ferrell played a very lacking character. I had no interest in seeing him succeed at all. I was invested in Rachel McAdams character but not enough to rescue the weak script.
I really wanted to enjoy this and I'm disappointed I wasn't able to.
Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated
May 22, 2021
Eurotastic!!!!
Whether you love The Eurovision Song Contest or not, this is a great film.
There are lots of little extras and cameos, that only the song contest fans will get, but they are magical when they happen.
The comedic performances of Will Ferrell and Rachael McAdams are both fantastic and the story is farfetched, but magical.
This film is best enjoyed with a whimsical mind set, I mean, they don't take themselves too seriously, so you should not either.
Watch it now, thank me later.
There are lots of little extras and cameos, that only the song contest fans will get, but they are magical when they happen.
The comedic performances of Will Ferrell and Rachael McAdams are both fantastic and the story is farfetched, but magical.
This film is best enjoyed with a whimsical mind set, I mean, they don't take themselves too seriously, so you should not either.
Watch it now, thank me later.