Actor Will Ferrell Shows Film On SMU Campus
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Hundreds of excited Southern Methodist University students lined the perimeter of the Trigg-Hughes Student Center to support the 40th anniversary of CHAS (Collegiate Hispanic American Students).
There was a lot of buzz on campus about the event, not only because it was a momentous occasion for the 60-member organization but there was also the preview of a Hollywood film and appearance of a famous actor.
First, students watched the 90-minute film Casa Di Mi Padre -- a new comedy filmed entirely in Spanish. The foreign language film wasn't unusual for the group, but the star who hosted the question ad answer period following the film was. As soon as he walked on stage the crowd erupted in deafening screams.
Will Ferrell has become a cult hero to young (and old) fans everywhere and his SMU visit created a total frenzy!
Ferrell is known for his hilarious turns in top grossing Hollywood films and 100's of television appearances, but like many performers he told CBS 11 Entertainment Reporter Sandie Newton he was anxious to push the envelope.
As we sat in the SMU stairwell for a quick interview he said his high school and two semesters of college Spanish served him well when he and his Funny or Die partners decided to take on the popular Telenovela and Spaghetti Western genre. The hysterical mash up eventually became Casa Di Mi Padre.
Filmed 100-percent in Spanish, the funny man told me he was tutored daily on set and is proud that critics are saying he mastered the accent and flavor of the classic melodrama.
In fact, those critics are saying it is "the funniest movie you will ever read" - referencing the subtitles.
Ferrell is taking the film across the country, to various college campuses, because he said, "kids really get my films."
He may be onto something, since the SMU students not only "got" his film but also gave it a huge thumb's up!
Ferrell said he chose to show the movie in Dallas because of the diversity in the city and his excitement about being part of the CHAS celebration.
Dozens of students stopped the CBS 11 crew to share their favorite lines from Will Ferrell movies -- among them "I'm Ron Burgandy?", "…more cow bell" and "I'm kind of a big deal."
But perhaps the best line of the night was the huge shout out of "Mi casa es su casa" as students welcomed the award winning actor into the student center for the very special night of hilarity...y toda en español.
Casa Di Mi Padre opens this week in select theaters citywide.
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