Love him or loathe him, Will Ferrell is one of the most prolific comedic actors in Hollywood. He seems to have a never-ending conveyor belt of movies which are churned out year after year – most of which pass as a funny, easy-going watch. But what happens when he misses the mark completely?
In 2018, Ferrell starred in Holmes and Watson, alongside his Step-Brothers co-star John C. Reilly. The film promised to be a comedy mocking the famous Arthur Conan Doyle character Sherlock Holmes. They gave one of the greatest characters in English Literature an “American revamp,” according to Reilly.
Boasting a star-studded cast featuring the likes of Ralph Fiennes, Kelly McDonald and Steve Coogan, and led by Hollywood’s favourite comedic duo, the film seemed set to be a hit. However, it only grossed $40 million dollars at box office, which was $3 million lower than the films budget. But why did it flop?
Youtuber I Hate Everything gives a brutally honest review of the film which is placed 99th on IMDB’s top 100 worst films list. According to IHE, one of the films biggest failures is the complete lack of storyline. The film jumps around, leaving whole scenes completely disconnected from the central plot. This is due partly to the lack of writing, as Ferrell and Reilly were left to adlib and improvise on the spot. Furthermore, IHE criticises Ferrell’s performance, coining it a caricature of a caricature. Both Ferrell and Reilly’s man-child acting completely destroys the dynamic of Conan Doyle’s Holmes and Watson.
Despite Hollywood’s love for Ferrell films, Holmes and Watson was a complete bust.
