Will Ferrell has built a fine career playing dumbasses. From the cowbell-toting dude on Saturday Night Live to redneck race-car driver Ricky Bobby, Ferrell has the freak market cornered. He’ll add another character to that list on Friday when The Other Guys opens. Ferrell plays Allen Gamble, a New York City detective who sits at his desk idolizing a pair of hotshot cops. Along with partner Mark Wahlberg, he finally gets a chance to prove himself — but things don’t go as planned, of course. Here’s a look at our favorite dimwittery from Ferrell’s most memorable movies.
Old School: Ferrell plays Frank Ricard, one of three pals who head off their impending midlife crises by guzzling beer bongs at their new frat house.
Quote: “Fill it up again! Fill it up again! Once it hits your lips, it’s so good!”
Elf: Buddy the Elf, Ferrell’s most enduring character, leaves the North Pole to search for his real dad in N.Y.C., where he fights a department-store Santa.
Quote: “You smell like beef and cheese. You don’t smell like Santa”
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy: Ferrell’s biggest dumbass is a blow-dried 1970s TV news anchor whose ego is as big as his mustache.
Quote: “I’m very important. I have many leather-bound books, and my apartment smells of rich mahogany”
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby: Ferrell’s NASCAR driver is about as dumb as they come. Still, his fast-lane lifestyle has paid off with fans, groupies, and million-dollar endorsements.
Quote: “Hi, I’m Ricky Bobby. If you don’t chew Big Red, then fuck you”
This article appears in Aug 4-10, 2010.