TIFF10 // Everything Must Go: Solid showcase for Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell plays Nick, an alcoholic who has lost everything in a single day - his job, his wife, and his car in this first feature written and directed by Dan Rush. Coming home, he finds himself locked out by his wife, all of his things strewn across the lawn and proceeds to try and rebuild his life while living on his lawn.

The film is a character piece, resting entirely on Ferrell's shoulders and he delivers with a sensitive portrayal of a man on the brink. While he has a few funny moments including a hilarious reaction shot to his neighbours' in-home activities, he never delves into the Ferrell persona we're so used to seeing, burying it successfully inside a fully formed character wrestling with serious problems. His relationship with ---, a kid who helps him sell his things and his pregnant neighbour across the road bring out his issues without feeling forced.

Rush portrays Nick's alcoholism with a deft hand, never letting it drag down the film but never treating it lightly either. On a similar wavelength, the film strikes a laidback, low-key tone, with the occasional laugh to liven things up. The script is economical, with few characters, each one an important key to Nick's arc. Its crisp dialogue is efficiently conveyed in the film but it could use a little more colour and innovation on a visual level as it feels all too similar to the numerous other indie dramas of the past decade and relies heavily on its script to carry it through.