From serving as a head writer for Saturday Night Live, creating the website/production company Funny Or Die, to eventually becoming an Oscar-winning screenwriter, Adam McKay is one of the pioneering figures of 21st-century comedy. The writer-director started his cinematic career with conventional over-the-top comedies like Anchorman and The Other Guys.
But as per his last two films The Big Short and Vice, McKay has also dabbled in smart satirical comedies and this seems to be the direction that he'll take with his future movies too. He has also written and produced a diverse array of work including Ant-Man and Booksmart. Here, we count down all of the films directed by him, ranked according to their Rotten Tomatoes score.
7 Step Brothers (2008) - 55%
Starring frequent collaborators Will Ferrell and John C Reilly, this might be McKay's most ridiculously tongue-in-cheek film. The plot revolves around two 'man-children' who become stepbrothers after their single parents marry each other. They initially hate each other and engage in gag-filled theatrics but they soon become best friends, unintentionally annoying anyone and everyone who comes in their way.
Not everyone would be able to appreciate the film fully but it's still a delight to see the two leads behave like stupid children, especially for those who are fans of Adam Sandler or Jim Carrey's loud, over-the-top performances. While the movie didn't fare well with critics because of its nonsensical storyline and intentional overacting, Step Brothers still acquired a cult following and fans eagerly demand a sequel too, which might be in works.
6 Vice (2018) - 66%
Speaking of polarizing films, McKay's biopic of former US Vice President Dick Chaney (Christian Bale) was probably the most conflicting film last awards season. Vice doesn't follow the usual biopic approach; it's filled with fourth-wall breaks, semi-fictional elements, and lots of meta-humor. For instance, just take the scene where the War Powers Act and torture of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay are mentioned in the menu of a restaurant which a waiter reads out to Chaney and his peers. What might seem like bookish information for laypersons, McKay tries simplifying it for his audiences.
Some people criticized the black comedy and the fact that McKay took a one-sided approach to his portrayal of Chaney. But then there were others who praised the interactive tone of the satire as well as the bold critiques the film offered of its real-life subjects. Regardless of reviews, there was unanimous praise for Christian Bale's lead portrayal, which earned him nominations at all major awards.
5 Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (2004) - 66%
This is the film that launched Adam McKay to the mainstream and established his long-standing partnership with Will Ferrell. Anchorman, again, had a tongue-in-cheek approach like McKay's initial films but at the same time, it was a delightful satire on TV journalism of the '70s. Ferrell stars as Ron Burgundy, a misogynistic news anchor who feels threatened when a female anchor in his studio starts garnering buzz.
The film didn't get the best of reviews in its time of release but is now widely considered as an iconic comedy, often being ranked in lists of the best comedies of all time. Ron Burgundy's dialogues have also become iconic quotes in pop culture, with Ferrell stating that being the titular 'anchorman' was probably the best thing he has done in his career.
4 Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (2006) - 71%
With another talented comedy ensemble, Talladega Nights finds Will Ferrell as an overconfident NASCAR driver who faces competition when a French driver (played by Sacha Baron Cohen) steps in the game. In many ways, it feels like a spiritual sequel to Anchorman with its premise of an insecure protagonist as well as the satire which now takes place in the equally male-dominated world of racing instead of journalism.
The film was well-received by audiences and critics alike who were ready to ignore a few drawbacks or overstretched scenes in favor of the clever gags and jokes that Ferrell and McKay's script had to offer otherwise. Leo Parente, an automotive journalist, even sincerely referred to Talladega Nights as 'the most accurate racing film ever!'
3 Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) - 75%
After the success of the first Anchorman, a counterpart film called Wake Up Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie was released which comprised of deleted and bonus scenes from the original. But 2013 saw a direct sequel set in the '80s this time. As per critics and audiences scores, the sequel, however, faced an opposite case as compared to its predecessor. This time, the critics certified the film as 'fresh' but the audiences gave it a decent yet 'Rotten' rating of 51%.
The sequel was definitely funny and did indeed continue the legacy of Ron Burgundy and Co., but for some, it wasn't 'quotable' enough. A stand-out scene from the film is a massive fight scene featuring various cameos like Jim Carrey, Tina Fey, and Will Smith. To promote the film, Ferrell also had fun playing his character in various real-life news programs and even in the Winter Olympic trials.
2 The Other Guys (2010) - 76%
It seems like its Adam McKay's goal to parody every genre with every new film of his. In The Other Guys, he parodies the buddy-cop genre with his cops being Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell. The chemistry between them works to elevate the simple story to a fun-filled adventure. Apart from the usual gags, the film also has decent stunt work and set pieces to function as an action flick. Additionally, the cast includes Eva Mendes, Steve Coogan, and Dwayne Johnson, all of whom seem to be having fun while shooting this film.
Otherwise, there's not much satire to be found in the action-comedy and it was the last over-the-top comedy he made, before venturing into more serious territory.
1 The Big Short (2015) - 88%
The Big Short is the venture which surprised all audiences. McKay's first project without Will Ferell was a funny yet hard-hitting take on the conditions preceding the financial crisis of 2008 and the impact it had on the housing sector. Just like Vice, McKay attempts to explain complicated economic concepts in an interactive manner with celebrities like Margot Robbie, Selena Gomez, and Anthony Bourdain breaking the fourth wall. The lead performances by Christian Bale, Steve Carrell, Brad Pitt, and Ryan Gosling are also well-acted, adding a touch of realism and cynicism to the real-life crisis that inspired the movie.
It was The Big Short which made people take Adam McKay seriously as a wildly original filmmaker and screenwriter who's capable of winning the top awards instead of just making viewers laugh.
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