06-29-2020, 04:00 PM
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
Like the best parody musical films (e.g. 'The Rutles', 'South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut' and 'Spinal Tap') the songs in 'The Story of Fire Saga' are as good as the music they are mimicking. Songs like 'Double Trouble', 'Lion of Love', 'Volcano Man' and 'Husavik' are the best things never to have been in Eurovision (many sung by actual Swedish Eurovision contestant Molly Sanden, who has an incredible voice). You can tell it's a movie made with love, respect and knowledge for it's subject, it just "gets it". Will Ferrell (who co-writes, Produces and stars) has apparently been a long time Eurovision fan thanks to his Swedish wife. It's Ferrell's best film in about 10-years... however that's not saying much. I really enjoyed it but it's too long, features too much improv humour which distracts from the (well written) plot and a bit too much unnecessary swearing and sexual humour. Eurovision is the kind of thing the whole family can sit down and enjoy together, so it's a real shame that this movie is 12A/PG-13.
Many Eurovision stars appear as themselves and UK host Graham Norton is there to present, comment and joke, just like he does for the real show, giving it that veneer of believability you need for great parody. I found myself cheering on the two loser/dreamer characters (Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams) in their unlikely quest and their finale performance of 'Husavik' is genuinely emotional. Dan Stevens gives his all as a Russian guy who is cleverly setup to make you think he's going to be the cliched evil/cocky/talented rival of the underdogs Fire Saga but he actually ends up being quite thoughtful and having his own beautiful little arc (with a bit of politics thrown in). I appreciated the way the end stuck to the rules of the song contest. Despite there being some elf-based homicide, the most unrealistic thing about the film was it being set in Scotland, which suggested the UK had somehow written a song that won Eurovision the year before and not one so bad it got "nil points"... ludicrous!
With 2020 having no real winner due the pandemic, I think a lot of people are going to enjoy imagining this was Fire Saga's year.
I hope this Netflix movie gets a blu-ray release at some point because I'd do a fanedit in a heartbeat.
This music video for 'Double Trouble' gives a better impression of the movie than the actual trailer:
Here is Iceland's actual entrant for Eurovision 2020, covering Iceland's imaginary entrant for 2020 (very meta
):
Dammit I've had Dan Stevens singing "I'm a lion lover!!" stuck in my head all day at work:
Like the best parody musical films (e.g. 'The Rutles', 'South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut' and 'Spinal Tap') the songs in 'The Story of Fire Saga' are as good as the music they are mimicking. Songs like 'Double Trouble', 'Lion of Love', 'Volcano Man' and 'Husavik' are the best things never to have been in Eurovision (many sung by actual Swedish Eurovision contestant Molly Sanden, who has an incredible voice). You can tell it's a movie made with love, respect and knowledge for it's subject, it just "gets it". Will Ferrell (who co-writes, Produces and stars) has apparently been a long time Eurovision fan thanks to his Swedish wife. It's Ferrell's best film in about 10-years... however that's not saying much. I really enjoyed it but it's too long, features too much improv humour which distracts from the (well written) plot and a bit too much unnecessary swearing and sexual humour. Eurovision is the kind of thing the whole family can sit down and enjoy together, so it's a real shame that this movie is 12A/PG-13.
Many Eurovision stars appear as themselves and UK host Graham Norton is there to present, comment and joke, just like he does for the real show, giving it that veneer of believability you need for great parody. I found myself cheering on the two loser/dreamer characters (Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams) in their unlikely quest and their finale performance of 'Husavik' is genuinely emotional. Dan Stevens gives his all as a Russian guy who is cleverly setup to make you think he's going to be the cliched evil/cocky/talented rival of the underdogs Fire Saga but he actually ends up being quite thoughtful and having his own beautiful little arc (with a bit of politics thrown in). I appreciated the way the end stuck to the rules of the song contest. Despite there being some elf-based homicide, the most unrealistic thing about the film was it being set in Scotland, which suggested the UK had somehow written a song that won Eurovision the year before and not one so bad it got "nil points"... ludicrous!
With 2020 having no real winner due the pandemic, I think a lot of people are going to enjoy imagining this was Fire Saga's year.I hope this Netflix movie gets a blu-ray release at some point because I'd do a fanedit in a heartbeat.
This music video for 'Double Trouble' gives a better impression of the movie than the actual trailer:
Here is Iceland's actual entrant for Eurovision 2020, covering Iceland's imaginary entrant for 2020 (very meta
):Dammit I've had Dan Stevens singing "I'm a lion lover!!" stuck in my head all day at work:
![[+]](https://forums.fanedit.org/images/focus/collapse_collapsed.png)