'Eurovision Song Contest' does neither Ferrell nor Europe proud

On the one hand, it’s something to not hate a movie that features people singing Cher’s “Believe,” Pharrell’s “Happy” and Black Eyed Peas’ “I Got a Feeling.” On the other, “it’s funny because Will Ferrell has an Icelandic accent” doesn’t quite cut it for comedy, and “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” often seems as indecisive about its purpose as it is about its clunky title. Quotable this is not, unless you plan to drop “Let’s go sex nuts” into conversation.

Ferrell, 52, and Rachel McAdams, 41, play Lars and Sigrit, a failed Icelandic musical duo who are pretty sure they’re not related and whose dreams of electro-pop stardom would have been more endearing and less sad for characters 10 years younger, especially considering Sigrit has long wanted to be with and have a baby with Lars. Their quest has gone well past its expiration date, and “Eurovision Song Contest,” co-written by Ferrell and apparently based on a real contest I admittedly know nothing about, likewise drags and drags as the movie frequently declines to commit to providing jokes.

Part of the problem is that Lars and Sigrit’s group Fire Saga is neither good nor bad -- their awfulness only stems from onstage embarrassment that comes from failed stunts -- and same for many of the other contestants when Fire Saga unexpectedly becomes Iceland’s representative in the big-time Eurovision Song Contest being held in Edinburgh. It’s not a sports movie (“Blades of Glory,” “Talladega Nights,” “Kicking and Screaming,” “Semi-Pro”) but may as well be, and inevitable community hooting and swelling music to accompany unearned success aren’t a foolproof path to inspiration. Lars’ father’s (Pierce Brosnan, 15 years older than Ferrell) disappointment in his immature son isn’t any fresher than it was 14 years ago in the far funnier “Hot Rod,” and subplots involving a Russian singer (Dan Stevens) of ambiguous sexuality and possible nastiness within the group of Icelandic leaders may as well arrive with the words “Gotta pass the time somehow” on screen.

Perhaps that will be why many stream this disappointment, which has several small laughs but few big ones, and lands a lot closer to “Music and Lyrics” than “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.” For much of “ESC: TSOFS,” you wonder when it’s really going to start.

C

Order “Zack Morris Lied 329 Times! Reassessing every ridiculous episode of ‘Saved by the Bell’ … with stats” (featuring interviews with 22 cast members, plus the co-founder of Saved by the Max and the creator of “Zack Morris is Trash”)