¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Will Ferrell!

Actor comedian Will Ferrell turns 45 years old today, so why not celebrate his birthday . . .  tomorrow when Casa de mi Padre comes out on DVD and Blu-ray?

Casa de mi Padre is not a film most comedic actors would attempt. The film itself is a parody of the Spanish Westerns of the 70s and 80s, complete with faux-low budget effects and purposeful continuity errors. Ferrell plays Armando Alvarez, a young ranchero working at his father's ranch living in the shadow of his brother Raul (Diego Luna), who has gone on to America to become a successful businessman. When his brother returns with his fiance, Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez), Armando falls for her and finds himself in the middle of a drug war between Raul and the Onza (Gael Garcia Bernal). 

What makes Casa de mi Padre work is the 100% commitment Ferrell gives to the character, speaking all of his lines in Spanish (the only character who doesn't speak Spanish in the film is DEA Agent Parker, played by Parks and Rec's Nick Offerman), and giving every scene the dramatic weight required without ever winking to the audience that the entire movie is one big joke.

His ability to latch on to a part and play to the deepest realities of that character is the brilliance of Will Ferrell. Now that he's at a point in his career where he can expirement freely, I look forward to more movies like Casa de mi Padre, or even local tv spots for Old Milwaukee.

So, feliz cumpleanos, Will Ferrell! Here's to his career thus far...

What's your favorite Will Ferrell vehicle?

--JD