Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

Two small-town aspiring musicians chase their pop star dreams at a global music competition, where high stakes, scheming rivals and onstage mishaps test their bond.

  • Released: 2020-06-26
  • Runtime: 123 minutes
  • Genre: Comedy, Music
  • Stars: Rachel McAdams, Will Ferrell, Pierce Brosnan, Dan Stevens, Jamie Demetriou, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Melissanthi Mahut, Joi Johannsson, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, Graham Norton, Demi Lovato, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Bobby Lockwood, Elena Saurel, Julian Miller, Mikael Persbrandt, Jon Kortajarena, Elina Alminas, Alfrun Rose, Elin Petersdottir, Christopher Jeffers, Rebecca Harrod, Josh Zaré, Eleanor Williams, Björn Stefánsson, Maxim De Villiers, Chris Lew Kum Hoi, Tómas Lemarquis, Smari Gunn, Kajsa Mohammar, Gudmundur Thorvaldsson, Arnar Jónsson, Natasia Demetriou, Hannes Óli Ágústsson, Hlynur Þorsteinsson, William Lee Adams, Heidi Niemi, Chris Beaumont, Laura Hayden, Joshua Rumble, Harry Balazs, Jackson Couzens, Halldora Thoell, Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir, Alfie Melia, Mark Adams, Zack Propert, Brie Kristiansen, Gunnar Cauthery, Milan van Weelden, Alexander Tol, Andrei Zayats, Junior Delius, Daniela Tocari, Tharan Sivapatham, Miguel Angelo, Eveline Suter, Tommy Ashby, Lydia Clowes, Aiste S. Gram, Salvador Sobral, Marcus Garvey, John Lundvik, Anna Odobescu, Bilal Hassani, Loreen, Jessy Matador, Alexander Rybak, Jamala, Elina Nechayeva, Thomas Neuwirth, Netta, Sophia-Grace Donnelly, Trevor Allan Davies, Spike Jefferson, Yevgeniy Malyarchuk, Jason Lines
  • Director: David Dobkin
 Comments
  • ITALUKE - 11 June 2024
    Hard to define.
    This movie is quite hard to define, it is not exactly a comedy or spoof movie, neither it is a serious movie about Eurovision. However you want to call this, one thing is sure, you'll be entertained. The movie has funny scenes (like the ones with the american tourists), music scenes (there are many songs, most of which also have their own "music video", like the singalong event or the volcano man song), and touching scenes (avoiding spoilers, I'm talking about scenes regarding the relationship between Ferrel's character and another 2 important characters). I've never cared about Eurovision before this movie, and will not care for it after, but I still enjoyed this.
  • laszlosarolta-07576 - 30 August 2023
    Fits both for fans and for those who hear about Eurovision for the first time
    As a Eurovision fan I watched this movie for the 2nd time this year. It was an enjoyable watch both times, not a boring moment.

    Of course, as a fan I love that they built a movie around Eurovision, and there are a few references to the original contest, but besides that it's a musical romcom. If you do not like/know Eurovision, you should give it a go anyway, I'm sure you'll find something to like about this movie! It has beautiful songs, talented actors (no, I'm not a Will Ferrel fan, but still), good filming and an unpredictable plot.

    And if you actually like Eurovision, then why'd you miss The Eurovision Movie? Former ESC stars, later legends, ESC songs and that May-feeling... you get it all!
  • mirkobozic - 12 March 2023
    An entertaining tribute
    In order to fully appreciate the spirit of this tribute to European Song Contest, we need to put aside the generic plot elements that merely keep the story together, like unrequited love, daddy issues and childhood dreams and focus on the competition itself. It's a cultural phenomenon from Europe that somehow entirely escaped the American radar while reaching all the way to Australia. However things are starting to change, it's now broadcast in America as well. This spawned the American Song Contest which completely missed the point since the very concept doesn't really work outside a place like Europe. As a European myself, this movie is a great idea to answer basic questions about the competition because this place isn't merely a pile of different countries and political alliances but rich heritage and a cornucopia of identities that uses Eurovision as a platform that celebrates all that. An another thing that's crucial to the experience is the sheer variety of endless glam, kitsch, ballads, hilarious costumes and staging and the occasional cult classic that you see on stage.

    "The Story of Fire Saga" is the fruit of Will Farrell's imagination fuelled by his Swedish in-laws that initiated him into what might be called the Eurovision cult because the average finale has more viewers than the Superbowl. A story about two friends from a small town in Iceland determined to take part in Eurovision, they put all their efforts into their band called Fire Saga which does, indeed, end up on the stage of the competition. Rachel McAdams is doing a fine job in the leading role, while they tick all the stereotype boxes (elves? Tick! Everyone is related? Tick! Lots of fish and ice? Double tick!). Their chemistry works but the romantic angle was probably a nod to the audiences that don't start hyperventilating as soon as they hear the sound of Alexander Rybak's violin. To please his target audience, there's music by Cher, Madonna and Black Eyed Peas. For the rest of us there's Celine Dion and ABBA, whose international careers took off after the competition. And to put the cherry on the cake for fans, a singalong with a group of Eurovision royalty like Loreen, Jamala, Salvador Sobral, Netta etc. Graham Norton pops in for a cameoas well, playing-naturally-himself, with the usual jokes at the expense of contestants.

    So, what's the final verdict on this? Ferrell tries to please everyone to an uneven success. Americans who can barely tell the difference between The Voice and Eurovision, and diehard fans who will be undoubtedly be pleased by Conchita's rendition of Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi or Sobral crooning on a piano. To my surprise, Will Ferrell can sing when he's not trapped inside a human-sized hamster wheel. True fans take their passion seriously so I wouldn't be surprised if the reaction get polarized either. But that's the hidden intention: to show you why so many people connect over music and that there are so many things that are still hidden in plain sight. As Ferrell brilliantly put it, Europe is more than a big party town. And Saga's karaoke-friendly soundtrack is destined for parties that take place everywhere from London to Tel Aviv before the main event. Before attempting to parody Eurovision, nobody does it better than they themselves. Grasping on this makes Ferrell's film a success.
  • jasondho - 26 July 2022
    Fun and Musical Comedy
    I've shoved this one down my watchlist for quite some time now. I wish I have watched it sooner. By no means is this an Oscar worthy movie, but it is a great feel-good comedy.

    It was interesting seeing Rachel McAdams with Will Farrell on this one. They make a great duo.
  • kevin_s-15449 - 11 May 2022
    Great fun really enjoyed it!
    Cracking movie full of light hearted fun. Loved it and wish there was more out there like it instead of the usual depressing choices of murder, melancholy, vampires or zombie's.