Why Is Will Ferrell Funny?A video slide show.

Click the launch module to the left for a video slide show on the secrets of Will Ferrell's comic genius.

PRINTDISCUSSE-MAILRSSRECOMMEND...SINGLE PAGE

FacebookMySpace Mixx Digg Reddit del.icio.us Furl Ma.gnolia SphereStumbleUponCLOSE

In Blades of Glory, Will Ferrell plays a raven-tressed, crotch-grabbing figure skater named Chazz Michael Michaels. It's not a stretch for Ferrell to swaddle himself in spandex and become an "ice-devouring sex tornado." Like Anchorman's Ron Burgundy, Chazz radiates over-the-top machismo. Like Ricky Bobby of Talladega Nights, he's a down-on-his-luck sports hero. And like, well, every character Will Ferrell has ever played, he flaunts his hairy, paunchy body without a hint of shame.

It's undeniable that Ferrell's performances hit a lot of the same notes. But look more closely at his oeuvre and you'll see a comic actor whose most prominent trait is his flexibility. Compared with someone like Vince Vaughn, a talented comedian who infuses every role with manic shtick, Ferrell's versatility is a wonder to behold.

Click here for a video slide show on the secrets of Will Ferrell's comic genius.

PRINTE-MAILRECOMMEND...RSS

FacebookMySpace Mixx Digg Reddit del.icio.us Furl Ma.gnolia SphereStumbleUponCLOSE

Josh Levin is a Slate senior editor. You can e-mail him at and follow him on Twitter.

SPONSORED CONTENT

• Shirt-Buttoning Styles of the Weird and "Special"
  Why Forrest Gump, Adrian Monk, and Steve Urkel button the top button.
  June Thomas | Dec. 3, 2009
• You Really Should Be Watching Parks and Recreation
  How the NBC sitcom found its voice. Plus: its mustachioed secret weapon.
  Jonah Weiner | Dec. 2, 2009
• Strange Maps
  California as an island, utopia in the shape of a skull, and other cartographic curiosities.
  Frank Jacobs | Nov. 30, 2009
• Search for more Culturebox articles
• Subscribe to the Culturebox RSS feed
• View our complete Culturebox archive