By Dave Montalbano
AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com
Finishing my book, The Adventures of Cinema Dave in the Florida Motion Picture World, forced me to confront the many things I have accumulated. The last chapter presents a plan to eliminate the artifacts of my life, which is similar to the dilemma Will Ferrell’s character faces in Everything Must Go.
The film begins with the termination of the 16-year career of Nick (Ferrell). Despite being a champion salesman, Nick has a problem with alcohol and blackouts. When he returns home, the locks have been changed and his personal items have been left on the lawn by his future ex-wife. When his car is repossessed and his credit card
is blocked, Nick becomes trapped on his own front yard.
With enough petty cash to purchase beer, Nick sits on his front yard and spies on his new pregnant neighbor across the street, and hires Kenny (Christopher Jordan Wallace) to watch his lawn when he needs a potty break. Despite coping with his situation, Nick is harassed by his neighbor (Stephen Root), who contacts code enforcement. Fortunately for Nick, Detective Garcia (Michael Pena) is a sponsor from Alcoholics Anonymous.
Once Nick becomes stuck on the front lawn, Everything Must Go had the potential to become a boring bomb of a movie. Yet, director Dan Rush’s unfussy camera work allows the viewer to meet and greet Nick and his neighbors. Particularly affecting is Nick’s relationship with Kenny.
Despite his success as over-the-top characters in movies like Talladega Nights the Legend of Ricky Bobby and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Ferrell gives his most controlled performance. As an alcoholic salesman, he has many opportunities to overact, but the actor never gives in to the temptation. This discipline pays off in the stark setting because the comedy becomes more humane.
This film is based on a short story, Why Don’t You Dance? written by Raymond Carver, who died of cancer in 1988. Posthumously, Carver’s work has produced two award nominated motion pictures on DVD, Jindabyne and Short Cuts. Short Cuts features an all-star cast and is directed by the late Robert Altman. Carver’s voice is strong in all three motion pictures.
For people seasoned by life, we realize that we make situations out of our control. It is how an individual acts that defines their behavior and character. Everything Must Go features a personal journey with humor and truthfulness.
