Starring: Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Jason Mantzoukas, Nick Kroll, Ryan Simpkins, Allison Tolman
Director: Andrew Jay Cohen
Release date: 30th June 2017
Scott Johansen (Will Ferrell) and his wife, Kate (Amy Poehler) live with their teenage daughter Alex (Ryan Simpkins), who is soon due to head off to College. She has her heart set on a prestigious one called, ‘Bucknell University’. The family are relying on a scholarship, paid for by the town but during a town council meeting, they discover that the council wants to build a town swimming pool and scrap the scholarship. The Johansen’s are devastated to say the least. Their long-time friend, Frank (Jason Mantzoukas) is going through a very messy separation and has been a long time gambler. The Johansen’s are due to go to Vegas with Frank for a weekend, but they try to cry off because of their lack of funds. Frank talks them round and they head to Vegas, but they end up losing all their money after Scott makes a huge mistake. Defeated and penniless, they return home. One of them has the bright idea to open a casino in the basement and says they will split the house take 50/50 with each other. They spread the word around the neighbourhood and implement a secret entrance, with secrecy being of the utmost importance. Can the couple keep their heads down long enough to make the money to send Alex to College, or will the illegal casino be their undoing?
The latest offering from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Production Company, Gary Sanchez Productions, ‘The House’ re-unites Will & Amy, who last starred together in ‘Blades of Glory’, back in 2007.
I’ve been a huge fan of Will Ferrell’s since first seeing him in ‘Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery’ back in 1997, where he played one of Dr. Evil’s henchmen, Mustafa. Something about him made me laugh out loud and I’ve loved pretty much everything he’s done since. Both he and Amy Poehler are Saturday Night Live alumni and worked together on the show. It’s kind of surprising that they haven’t really crossed paths in a movie in the past ten years, but their chemistry in ‘The House’ is pretty evident. Jason Mantzoukas has come into his own in this movie as well. You might recognise him from the brilliant ‘Parks & Recreation’ and I reckon we’ll be seeing a lot more of him in many movies to come.
Very much a vehicle for Will Ferrell and his very particular sense of humour, it definitely has his stamp written all over it. If you love or even just like Will’s comedy then definitely go and see this movie. If you just don’t ‘get’ Will at all or even hate him then maybe don’t bother. Amy Poehler is really great in this and there’s laughs aplenty. She definitely adds her own stamp to it as well.
If you’re looking for a laugh out loud comedy that’s a tiny bit gross in places, then go and see ‘The House’.
Overall: 8/10
