Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020) Movie Review

The Title Is Like A Summary, Nice

                                                                    image by Amazon.com, lnc.

With it's long, and pretty clear title, "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga" is a Netflix original about a duo called Fire Saga. And as you can imagine, they are trying out for the Eurovision. Well, all I wrote in this first paragraph is actually clear as day in the title, but every review needs a beginning so.. just bear with me.

The Fire Saga members, Lars and Sigrit are life long best friends. Lars is a guy obsessed with the Eurovision since he heard Abba singing on the contest when he was a kid. His father is not a fan of his music career, long story short. So he's pretty much on his own about music, except for Sigrit. Sigrit, is a grown woman, acting like a child, feeding elves and stuff... Sigrit, was also in the very same room where Lars fell in love with a song contest, and was dancing to Abba alongside him. The two become best friends after that. Even so, Sigrit, who couldn't speak at the time, then starts speaking, thanks to  her friend Lars. Sigrit literally is the best fan of Lars. She adores everything he does, and admires his dedication and hard work about music. Lars and Sigrid call themselves stars. In their own eyes, they're one powerful duo. Well they also imagine things like giving shows on a volcano, weirdos...

The duo usually perform in a local pub, with guest musicians, including a kid from the town. No one believes in our duo, except themselves. They try to play their originals, yet still play the local's favorite Ja Ja Ding Dong every night at their gigs, by the way, quite a catchy tone that Ding Dong, I must say. Whatever, like every year, they send a cassette to their country's... board of music, I guess? Oh also, it's 2020, who has a cassette player? It just makes no sense, just use cd guys... Anyways, the board members already have a name in mind for the contest for the year, yet they have to do their own national contest in order to pick a winner, than send the winner to the contest. Yet still, they already know who will go to Eurovision for them, so when they fell short with candidates,they just pick a contestant randomly for the last spot. And boom, elf magic happens, our duo is on their way to Iceland Song Contest. And after some... events, they get to sing at Eurovision, representing Iceland. Lars' childhood dreams come true, so he gets pretty hyped up, while Sigrit is more interested in Lars' attention, so she is also thankful about his dream coming true. So the time comes, yet still, in the Eurovision, the Fire Saga is of course, not a favorite of anyone. Though still, even with Russians, Greeks, Icelanders, and gravity against them, they get to manage, roughly. Well, until everything goes crazy, and causing a mess...

The movie is a mediocre comedy, that was my first impression after finishing it. Yes, I gotta admit, there were some pretty funny parts, alongside some pretty offensive jokes, and some Anti-American jokes time to time. The jokes were supposed to be funny, yet I laughed at none of them, funny parts weren't those. I will give some credit at least to Ferrell (the co-writer of the movie, also starring in the title, as Lars) it's truly not a bad effort in writing. The scenery is nice, but the scenes are repetitive. Some characters are nearly stuck with one line of monologue. For example the father, the guy at the pub, that cop from station, which we didn't see for one time after that. It's a complicated story, not truly serious, but not just a fairy tale either. I loved that. It combines real life problems with some post-reality. For example, Lars and Sigrit's some conversations are just a mirror of my own life. Yet, there's and elf backstabbing a grown man in the movie as well. So you see what I mean...

The story is displayed in 123 minutes in this movie, yet still doesn't feel that long. Not a drag at least, which is a good deal for a comedy that long. Story is displayed OK, but since the movie is over 2 hours, I expected every little sub-story to be revealed fully, on screen. Yet, most of the movie is about the main story, our duo's Eurovision journey. Also, some sub-stories are really not developed enough. For example Sigrit's love... fling at the time of Eurovision, is a great part of the movie, but still, her... lover is pretty under developed, we just know his profession, odd thing really. Other than these, let me write about the things I write every time, soundtracks, shooting and brightness. The movie has no problem with brightness, although it's over-lit at some scenes, like the shore scene, with the yacht.  Soundtracks are a pro for this movie, since it has some originals (sort of) like the "Volcano Man", though I must say, couldn't hate them more, they were terrible. Yet I guess that was the point, make them look like they are bad, really bad. Still, original is original, it deserves credit. Shooting of this movie is not bad at all, the nature is hidden between the scenes, which gave me quite a nice time, I enjoyed these. Iceland is a lovely place, seriously. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, director David Dobkin (also known for King Arthur, The Judge) shows his potential in this comedy.

Let's sum up. "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga" is a different approach to comedy. Well it's not "This Is Spinal Tap" level creative, but you know, it's kind of a unique piece. It's a funny movie, but not the funniest movie of the year. Creative, but not the best picture of the year. Unique, but not like nothing is similar to it. As I said earlier, it's a mediocre comedy. That was all, now you can just go listen Abba's Waterloo, you're welcome.

Cinemortals Rating : 6/10

Reviewed By : Batuhan