Will Ferrell's Favorite Characters
When it comes to funny men in Hollywood, few are as outrageously entertaining as Will Ferrell. His latest film to hit video stores is the hit comedy "Kicking & Screaming."
The Early Show entertainment contributor Jess Cagle looks back at his hilarious career in The Early Show's Home Theater.
Will Ferrell became a household name for the seven seasons he spent on "Saturday Night Live." A Best of "SNL" DVD contains some of his greatest characters, but those aren't the only ones that Ferrell remembers fondly.
"I almost loved the sketches that didn't work as much as the ones that did," he said. "I didn't really have this thing of 'Oh, shoot, that idea didn't work.' I kind of had a thing of like, 'They hate it. I'm going to make it go longer because I still think it's really funny.' So it's kind of like counter to performing for the audience in a weird way."
For his first starring film role, Ferrell reprised one of his "Saturday Night Live" characters in "A Night of the Roxbury." With his over the top role in "Zoolander," movie audiences really fell in love with him. But his first post-"SNL" movie role as Frank the Tank in "Old School" made Ferrell a certified movie star.
"It's not gratuitous," he said. "It's based on the fact that this guy got himself into such a state, and he is alluding to his past, and he honestly thinks there are 500 people behind him. His wife pulls up and he's like 'Oh, hey, you're here too, great. Look how much fun we're having. Where is everyone?' "
The $200 million success of 2003's "Elf" cemented his place in Hollywood. Ferrell points to one scene that shows what he does best.
"It's played totally straight," he said. "It's what I think is my strong suit with comedy and just performance in general. There's no winking at the audience or the camera. It's kind of the way it should be played."
And "Kicking & Screaming" proves, once again, he is one of the best in the business. In the film, Ferrell plays a father who coaches his son's soccer team and takes it a little too seriously.
"Kicking & Screaming" hits video stores Tuesday. To celebrate, The Early Show gave out copies to audience members who were on the plaza, courtesy of Universal Home Video.