Nick Halsey (Will Ferrell) is a victim of a midlife crisis. He was actually fired from his job for alcoholism and drunken sex harassment towards his colleague, but in Russia it is called esly suchka ne zahotchet - cobel ne vskochet as well as alkogol v malenkih dozah bezvreden v lubykh kolichestvah. In addition, Nick was thrown out of the house by his wife, along with him on the lawn in front of the house were all his belongings, and in the door – a new castle. The car is taken by the company because it is corporate. The bank account is blocked by the spouse, since the account is shared. Nick Halsey will have to sit in front of the house on the lawn, among the junk that once mattered to him, in his comfortable chair, which once stood in front of the TV and spent all day drinking beer with cash left in his wallet, remembering those days when he was happy and life made sense. Only time to finally drink and solve all his problems he has not much. Former Alcoholics Anonymous co-worker Detective Garcia warned Nick that the only possibility is on the lawn of a now stranger's house to its former owner - is to arrange a garage sale. According to Arizona law, there are only five days to sell. Not much time to stop hating yourself and start a new life.
That's funny. I haven’t seen any of the many comedies with Will Ferrell (except Other Guys, which I haven’t even mastered to the end), but I’ve seen all two non-comedy films where the comic actor has starred in absolutely serious roles. This is Mark Forster's Character and now Dan Rush's All the Way. In both cases, I’m thrilled with both the films and Ferrell’s performance. Both roles are similar. Serious, ordinary average middle-aged men are at a turning point, when it is no longer possible to live according to the old, and in a new way you still need to learn.
Both films are essentially small-event solo performances of Ferrell, where his character rethinks his life with the help or influence of other interesting characters from a completely different life for him. In the case of Nick, a black, plump teenager from a poor family (Christopher C.J. Wallace) and a pregnant photo art teacher (Rebekah Hall) from a nearby house who recently moved in, for some reason without her husband’s involvement.
To me, many of the things that Nick experiences, drinking beer on the lawn of his own house every day in the collapse of his personal life, are quite understandable and somewhat close. Even the contemplatively pokhuistic way of dealing with these troubles is well known, as the often/sometimes/rare/always used remedy for middle-aged depression, I am sure, not only for me, but also for many of my friends. The method is called “and burn it all blue flame from the green snake, I will buy vodka go to the mountains, fishing / hunting / in the bath”.
I was afraid that Nick would get out of these difficulties in the traditional, outdated, Hollywood way. That is, he will change his faith, orientation, political beliefs, buy a new car, get a new woman, open a new business or return to professional sports, thereby proving that optimism and an eternal smile on his face are the best cure for all life’s misfortunes. But that didn't happen. It just became clear to the person that the remaining days, albeit a few days of life not yet lived, are much more important than the vast majority of days already lived. It became important to live each day as if it was the last day he did.
A very life-affirming film without excessive moralization and any Hollywood cranberries. I was surprised. Ferrell respect! I highly recommend middle-aged men!
9 out of 10