Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
When an alcoholic relapses, causing him to lose his wife and his job, he holds a yard sale on his front lawn in an attempt to start over. A new neighbor might be the key to his return to form.
Everything Must Go is a quiet, character-driven dramedy anchored by Will Ferrell's restrained dramatic performance, which earns him credibility outside his comedic comfort zone. The plot, adapted from a Raymond Carver short story, is modest in scope — a man living on his lawn — but derives its strength from small emotional truths rather than incident. The cinematography is functional but unremarkable, doing little to distinguish the suburban Arizona setting visually. Novelty is moderate: the Carver source material gives it a literary sensibility uncommon in mainstream dramedy, though the alcoholism-redemption arc is familiar. The ending is low-key and emotionally honest without being particularly cathartic, which suits the tone but may leave viewers wanting more resolution.