The House BD + Screen Caps

THE MOVIE — 2.25/5

Will Ferrell has had modest hits at the box office but The House is perhaps his biggest flop for a wide release. And it’s easy to see why, this was a half-baked comedy that has a flimsy plot and few laughs. The saving grace is that I did manage a few chuckles here and there but not for Ferrell but the supporting cast.

The story is on the simple side. Scott and Kate Johansen (WILL FERRELL, AMY POEHLER) are in a financial bind when the local city council pulls the full-ride scholarship for their daughter (RYAN SIMPKINS) due to budget cuts, in spite of a sprawling swimming recreation center. So, in order to being able to pay the $50,000 tuition fee, they go along with an idea by their friend Frank (JASON MANTZOUKAS), who is a compulsive gambler on the verge of divorce: they open up a casino at his private residence and soon enough what started off as a makeshift money maker became a full-fledge mini-resort hiring mousses, stand-up comics and more.

Before long things become out of control and “hilarity” ensues.

Quick Hit Review: The House wasn’t as bad as I had feared based on not only the reviews, but lackluster advertising, not to mention Will Ferrell, when it comes to his comedy, has been very hit or miss, mostly the latter. And this one is no different as I really didn’t laugh at him so much than his co-stars Amy Poehler, Nick Kroll and Jason Mantzoukas as they were funnier, considering the material, than he ever was. Poehler specifically elicited a few chuckles from me and probably saved this from being a total turkey. Oh, and Jeremy Renner makes an appearance as a secondary antagonist with little effect to the point to wondering why the character was there, added nothing to the story or was even funny.

This is your typical Ferrell performance where there are stretches that he goes overboard and apparently is in the same category as Melissa McCarthy, or vice versa, believing yelling jokes will somehow make it funnier; it doesn’t.

The film was co-written, produced and directed by Andrew Jay Cohen – and Ferrell and Adam McKay serve as producers as well – and it’s all rather basic, no real style and the pacing never quite picks up which is no surprise because there really isn’t much of a plot, this seems like would’ve worked better as some sort of short film… maybe.

In the end, The House is hardly terrible and nowhere close to being the worst comedy I’ve seen in 2017, the laughs are hard to come by and no doubt I won’t even remember anything about it come tomorrow; heck it’s only been a few hours and I’m beginning to forget.

SPECIAL FEATURES – 3.0/5

This release comes with a glossy slip cover, inside is a DVD Copy and redemption code for the Digital HD copy.

The House: Playing with a Loaded Deck (12:47; HD) is a behind-the-scenes featurette that takes viewers backstage and the cast talks about the project and working with one another.

If You  Build The House They Will Come (13:43; HD) looks at transforming an ordinary neighborhood house into an all-out casino.

Deleted Scenes (15:43; HD) – Here are 11 scenes that didn’t make the cut including an alternate opening.

Alternate/Extended Scenes (1:19:54; HD) – This has to the lengthiest amount of scenes. Seriously, that is insane.

Gag Reel (9:57; HD) contains the usual on-set antics with line flubs and character breaks as the cast makes each other laugh.

Last up are a set of Line-O-Ramas (8:41; HD).

VIDEO – 4.0/5

AUDIO – 3.75/5

OVERALL – 2.5/5

Overall, although not a terrible movie, or at least as terrible as I feared, The House was a misfire of a project for the normally, box office while anyway, Will Ferrell and even though I did manage to laugh a time or two, it is an entirely forgettable movie. The Blu-ray offers up both good video and audio transfers and an above average number of features.