Movie Review: Everything Must Go

Friday, November 4, 2011
Synopsis: Nick Porter is a career salesman whose days of being on top are long gone. The same day Nick gets fired, for falling off the wagon one last time, he returns home to discover his wife has left him, changed the locks on their suburban home and dumped all his possessions out on the front yard. Faced with his life imploding, Nick puts it all on the line - or more properly, on the lawn - reluctantly holding a yard sale that becomes a unique strategy for survival.
Starring: Will Ferrell, Christopher Jordan Wallace, Rebecca Hall, Michael Pena, Rosalie Michaels
Directed by: Dan Rush
U.S. Rating: R

Will Ferrell is one of my favorite actors. One of the main reasons is just because he's a weird authentic guy. What I really enjoy from him is that he's able to deliver a great and believable performancenot just on his funniest comedy films, but on witty films like this one. I really enjoyed his role on Strager Than Fiction, since he was able to show his versatile talent on different roles and movie genders. His role in Everything Must Go just confirmed it was not a coincidence of his great talent to play the main roles on these adult and smart humor/drama films.

Everything Must Go is basically a sad comedy, and should I say a thoughtful drama. Supported by a really good cast, the film brings a cinematic portrait of a self-destructive personality with, perhaps, a hopeful glimmer of redemption at the end of the film.

If you want to know more about the plot:

The film opens with Nick Halsey losing his job, it is shortly revealed that this is due to him being an alcoholic, and his involvement in an unknown incident in Denver. When he returns home, he finds his wife is gone, and that his belongings have been thrown out all over his front lawn. The locks to his house have been changed, along with the alarm codes, effectively preventing Nick from entering his house. There is a note from his wife, telling Nick she has left him, making note about the Denver incident. Nick then leaves to buy beer, and finds his company car being taken back by the company. In addition to this, Nick's ATM card is blocked and he has to survive with the little money he has in his pocket.

On talking with the bank manager, he comes to know that he has a joint account with his wife and she has blocked the cards while his savings, US$45,000, is still in there. Nick's phone service also gets terminated, leaving him with no wife, house, car, money, phone. He gets help from Kenny to look after this things on the lawn while he goes shopping. Soon they become friends, and they decide to sell Nick's stuff together. Nick assures him he'll give Kenny money for the help, and also that he will teach him to play baseball.

Nick spends all his remaining money on beer and food. When Nick experiences anxiety due to withdrawal from alcohol, his new neighbor Samantha gives him a Valium. Nick reads Samantha's problems and repays her harshly when she says that he must return to normal. The next morning Nick awakes to find Kenny has arranged his belongings on the lawn and has put price tags on them. All the things get sold by that evening. During dinner he encounters his supervisor who explains that the incident in Denver probably did not happen since the female employee he got drunk with tried blackmailing other employees. After having dinner with Kenny along with Samantha, he goes to meet his detective friend Frank Garcia. Nick’s wife calls Frank's cell phone, which Nick picks up and finds out that she has been staying with Frank ever since she left him. Frank explains to Nick that she deserves a better life and needs to agree to a divorce. He also gives him some money, a house key, and divorce papers for him to sign. The next day he gives his most valued possessions which he didn’t want to sell to his neighbor and Kenny. He also makes up with Samantha and they hug.

A pretty good option for a quiet/relaxing weekend afternoon.

I would rate this movie with a 3/5


Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!

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