Search - Saturday Night Live - The Best of Will Ferrell - Volumes 1& 2 on DVD

Very Disappointing

Guy in Ohio | Westerville, Ohio United States | 11/10/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased volumes 1 and 2 as a package, and I must say that I don't recall ever being so disappointed in a DVD purchase.

Will Ferrell, in my opinion, is one of the funniest actors to hit the set of SNL. There were mountains of classic sketches from which to choose when compiling these this set, yet these releases are terrible. Volume 1 has one Jeopardy sketch (quite funny, of course) and a very, VERY small snippet of Ferrell doing his Bush thing. Everything else is pretty much trash on Volume 1. Scattered throughout volume 1 are a bunch of three- or four second clips from "C+/C" sketches. I kept getting pissed when one would start and I'd think to myself "finally, one that I can force myself to laugh at", and it would get cut off. Well, in volume 2, some of these sketches are shown in their entirety. You can't but feel double-charged for SNL's double-dip on these clips. Volume 2 is just as empty as volume 1 in that it really doesn't contain Ferrell's best material. Where are the presidential debates? Where are the other jeopardy sketches (remember: out of BOTH releases, we only get ONE)? Where are the sketches of the angry father who lashes out at his kids in sudden bursts of rage? I'm not exaggerating when I say that the entire collection seems like the producers ordered all of Ferrell's sketches from "most hysterical" to "barely made the cut", and then started at the wrong end.

I won't be surprised when volume 3 is released: "Best of Will Ferrell: No, seriously."

This entire collection is just dreadful. I'm a big fan of Ferrell's and this collection is a disgrace. I wouldn't recommend either release to even the most loyal of fans. I'm giving it two stars instead of just one only because it's Ferrell."

A Good Collection, But it Certainly Could Have Been Better

Daniel R. Sanderman | Portland, OR United States | 09/05/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a fan of Will Ferrell, you should get this collection. While some of the recent SNL releases have been pretty lackluster, resulting from the fairly lackluster performers that have graced SNL in recent years, Will Ferrell is truly a character actor that deserves his own set. In fact, my only real complaint of these two DVD's is that they don't provide us with more footage. There is a ton of material that they left out--easily enough for another two DVDs. I'm not holding my breath for volumes three and four, but if you ask me, they ought to be on the way.

VOLUME 1 provides you with some of Will's best sketches, including the Blue Oyster Cult scene, Harry Carey, Jeopardy, Robert Goulet, Inside the Actor's Studio with Charles Nelson Riley, and more. Even more impressive are the extra features. This disc provides us with a glimpse of Will's audition to SNL, two of his hilarious appearances on Conan O'Brian, and the best sketch ever: the Old Prospector. It was a sketch that was cut from one of the aired shows, but it is hilarious. Simply hilarious.

VOLUME 2 fails, in some ways, to keep up the pace. I do not think that the disc is an overwhelming disaster, as others have stated. Often times the second volume of any compilation will lack punch, but I was pretty pleased with this one, due to the depth of Will's career. While not as good as the first disc, this volume picks up several of Will's one-time characters and shorts.

Overall, as I said, I feel that there was a wealth of material that did not make these discs. Of course, that is bound to happen in any compilation. But if these discs are going to be some of the flagships of the SNL series (and I believe they are), why not give us more than 70 minutes of action per disc? Why choose some of his mediocre sketches when you can throw in his better ones? It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

My recommendation: if you are a moderate fan of Will Ferrell and SNL, you can buy VOLUME ONE without any worries that you are missing something by passing over VOLUME 2. If you are a true fan, buy the double pack. But don't say I didn't warn you."

Who made these?

T. Bradley | NY | 11/24/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"All of the best of from the SNL collection, seem to be terrible. This one is bad as well. Who ever selects the clips and skits that go on these DVD's must be the same people that are destroying the currnt show of today, as that is awful too.

This DVD misses many, many classic and great Will Ferrell skits, like "Get off the shed", which is probably one of his most famous bits.

Very poor compilation of the last funny person from SNL."

Funniest SNL DVD out there.

Kent Olsen | Canadia | 06/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Will Ferrell fans, rejoice!! This DVD set promises more laughs than a year of lesser quality comedy. Ferrell shows once again (in full character) why he is the ultimate King of Comedy. From Robert Goulet (Goulet!) to Gus Chiggins, the old prospector, to the Devil, Ferrell does it all in style...and with side-splitting originality with help from writing genius. Cameos from Christopher Walken, Garth Brooks, Drew Barrymore, Alec Baldwin, Jeff Goldblum and others push the hilarious momentum to an uncontested speed. The usual cast shines - and tries not to laugh - when next to the "Brilliant blinding light from heaven" that is Will Ferrell. The bottom line; if you haven't seen these DVD's you haven't lived (Note to reader: YOU WANT TO LIVE) There. I said it. Now run to your nearest HMV and purchase the two disc set before something terrible befalls you and you leave this world having not lived a full life."