Will Ferrell may be famous for buffoonery, but anyone that’s seen “Stranger Than Fiction” knows he’s not just a clown. While it can sometimes be jarring to see such a funny man in such a sobering role, Ferrell negotiates drama with an earnestness that demands respect. His performance in “Everything Must Go” is no different.

Based on a Raymond Carver story, “Everything Must Go” details a few days in the life of Nick Halsey (Ferrell), an alcoholic whose relapse costs him his wife, his house, and his job. On the day of his firing, Nick returns home to find that his absent wife has changed the locks and thrown all of his worldly possessions on the front lawn. At first Nick clings to both alcohol and his stuff, but his experiences with a young boy and a new neighbor help him get rid of the things that are weighing him down.

The movie runs at a typical indie rate, which is not to say that “Everything Must Go” is slow; it just moves at a more leisurely, introspective pace, taking great care to flesh out the intracices of character rather than external action. Those looking for classic Ferrellian humor would be better suited popping “Anchorman” back into the DVD player, because “Everything Must Go,” while comedic at brief points, is largely about a man’s relationship with alcohol and its crippling effect on his life. The movie doesn’t sit on a pedestal or wave a disapproving finger, but it roots itself in issues of alcoholism and therefore shows the darker side of drinking. It’s incisive and poignant without being overly sentimental, and that’s in large part due to Ferrell.

Footnote: Whenever Will Ferrell does a serious role it reminds of the awesome song he did with Jack Black and John C. Reilly at the Oscars a couple years back. Check it out for a good laugh:

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