The House (2017)

The House (2017)

6/10

Starring

Will Ferrell

Amy Poehler

Directed by Andrew Jay Cohen

The movie is weirdly funny, and regardless of the critics panning it and the Rotten Tomatoes audience ratings being as low as they can be, I found it gainfully entertaining.
The studio, on the other hand, will not feel the same way. The movie was not only a critical nightmare but also a commercial failure, grossing $34 million at the box-office against its $40 million budget.

This comedy stars Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler as parents of an aspiring child who wants to go to college. The fun in this movie comes from the blend of over-the-top comedy and everyday occurrences, glazed with comedic mistakes that ended up making me laugh all the way through its 80-minute runtime.

The plot follows a couple, Scott and Kate (Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler, respectively), who pick a university with their daughter and then apply. When the same university finally accepts them, they’re overjoyed, and nothing in their wildest dreams could ruin the occasion.

Like every good parent, they already have plans and financial structures in place to make sure their child gets the best education without financially bankrupting themselves. Their financial backing comes from their community college fund, as their time has come to be beneficiaries of the fund.

The two believe everything is in place to fulfill their daughter’s dream—until the head of the neighborhood committee decides to go in a different direction. The head has other plans for the money: he wants to build a water park for the community and gets the committee’s backing to move forward, shelving Scott and Kate’s needs.

Now, the two are left stranded. They’ve maxed out all forms of financial assistance they could get their hands on, and with no hope in sight, they need to find a way to make things happen for their daughter.

Their friend, who is a gambling addict, comes up with a plan that makes sense when you think about it: the house never loses. He suggests they turn his house into a casino and invite their friends in the neighborhood to come play. Their hope is that the more people play, the more money the house will make, and they’ll finally be able to afford to send their daughter to college.

The House is a funny comedy, and for me, it’s worth seeing when you get around to it. I can understand why many hate it for the same reasons I’ve come to like the movie, but I feel it’s best in this case to get a feel for it yourself.