You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush (2009 TV Special) User Reviews

people either like it or not, I liked it. It's the right decision ever (actual quote)

[Quinoa1984 · 8/10 · 28 March 2009]

Going through the history of George W. Bush, both as a man and as the 43rd President, is like dissecting a living, breathing train wreck that has a goofy look on its face like the train gave someone a wedgie before it went chuckling off the rails. Whatever your political views are, it's hard not to see Bush's flaws to one degree or another, and at the same time his status as a cultural icon (yes, icon, sad to say it's kind of true). So, Will Ferrell took a hold of that and did a one-man show as Bush going through his own history. One might see that it's just a long-form version of one of his SNL skits as Bush addressing the nation, but it also has that quality of the retrospective; this is Will Ferrell doing his own riff on that play (later Altman film) Secret Honor where Richard Nixon sat with a tape recorder going over his paranoid history as president.

For Bush, history will judge him rightly (or rightfully?), but for Ferrell it's a chance to blend history with rumor and just downright surreal exaggeration, always for comic effect. Sometimes it doesn't totally work (I grew tired of the secret service guy dancing on stage; the lighting guys have a ball but it doesn't strike up the same amount of laughs as the star), but for the most part Ferrell and his writers have a blast with actual quotes from Bush, or just pictures of people from his cabinet (I busted a gut over his line about Richard Pearl being like a "Cuddly bear"), or just going completely off the wall about things like the rumored monkeys from Morocco for Iraq to detonate land mines. It is almost too much at times, but it's never less than amusing and at times it's some of the funniest material from Ferrell in years.

Now, there will be some who may grow tired of the shtick faster than others; it's not a total laugh-a-second venture like with Ferrel's movies at their very best. There's even a few moments where there's an ironic seriousness, something about the whole show that is sobering to what the past 8 years have been like. For most fans it should be a treat, and maybe it will bring some non-fans over as well. It's crazy and smart satire with more hits than misses.

Quite a good performance

[melinda2001 · 7/10 · 2 July 2011]

It is really hard for me to judge this movie because it is politically charged, historically educational, and a rather scattered collection of lewd and extreme segments, all at once. The first two thirds were excellent and I laughed really hard and often. Much of what Farrel says about G.W. is both shocking and true, so there is some really valuable recent history delivered in a very entertaining way. No small feat. Some of the information was even shocking to learn and I had to look it up and always found that he was correct. I haven't looked up everything but I would bet that nearly everything he says that wasn't obviously a joke is completely true. The movie is very valuable for anyone who doesn't know much about G.W. or misremembers or just plain forgot.

Even though the first two thirds has some really hilarious parts, it is shot through with some serious material which I did not mind. The performance takes an abrupt and very serious turn for the final third. I was OK with that too but was sad that most of the laughs were gone. Still, I thought the latter material dragged on far too long. So if you don't watch the whole thing that is perfectly OK. Just know that the wrap-up and interaction with the audience at the end is precious.

You will either love this movie or love to hate it, so either way you win!

Excellent

[deathisrad · 8/10 · 13 August 2009]

Obviously someone missed the point of this. Will Ferrell has been playing this Bush character since his days on SNL and this is that character at his best. Most level headed people that don't tie political satire with extreme political biased, will understand that it's just a big goof; George Bush himself would probably find this to be quite amusing(maybe that's a stretch, but even Bush is smart enough to see that this is satire not a serious political movie). No matter your party affiliation, if you can think with a free mind and don't take everything that Will Ferrell says to be him preaching a serious liberal agenda, you should be able to enjoy this. I mean c'mon it's Will Ferrell, after Stranger Than Fiction I don't think he'll ever be serious again.

Brilliant show by a brilliant mind

[Cartwheeling · 10/10 · 20 March 2009]

The show starts with a very funny message by (I think) Adam McKay as Dick Cheney. Moments later, we hear a chopper, and coming down from the ceiling strapped to another guy (who I first thought was McKay as well, but it later turned out it wasn't him) is Will Ferrell. The crowd starts to cheer; and they should as it was quite an entrance. Will has to wait patiently for about a minute for the crowd to stop cheering and clapping. As soon as he opened his mouth the laughter started and didn't stop until he left the stage about 75 minutes later, which generated even more cheering and clapping.

Throughout the show there was some strong language, which I guess could be expected. It never went overboard though. Will did what he did best when he's in total control. He improvised a lot of the audience reactions like a master. Other than Will Ferrell we got to see his brother Patrick Ferrell as his bodyguard, who did a great job with a constant straight-face except for the times he'd do some highly impressive dance-moves as soon as Will Ferrell went to change his outfit (which he did pretty often). We also got to see a hilarious erotic dance-routine between Condoleezza Rice & Dubya that had the crowd in stitches. Of course, Will was smart enough to include the now infamous shoe-throwing incident that happened to Bush when he was in Iraq a couple of months ago, and made a hilarious bit out of that. He actually harassed a guy sitting two rows behind me during the show, which would later turn out to be the shoe-throwing man, not a real ticket-holder of the show.

Now keep in mind, you don't have to have been very involved and alert regarding George W. Bush's eight years as president of the United States, you can still laugh your a** off at the material presented to you by Will Ferrell's great comedic mind, because the show is not all references of his two terms in the White House. But it certainly doesn't hurt to have been updated about some of the more known incidents during his period in office; it will definitely make you laugh more. For those of us very acquainted with his movies, we can spot several references from the two Ferrell/McKay movies Talladega Nights & Step Brothers.

As if the show wasn't awesome enough and by far the funniest thing I have ever seen on any stage, I was actually handpicked by Will Ferrell in one of the bits of the show which requires a lot of improvisation from Will. The bit was this: He wanted the audience members to raise their hands, give him their name and what they do for a living and he would come up with a nickname for them, to show the audience he (Bush) is quick on his feet, if I remember correctly (he was talking about some of the qualities he had)

So at first, I wasn't sure I wanted to do it, because I suspected I would stutter and make no sense with my Swedish accent (my English is good, but if I'm nervous when speaking English I'll sound terrible). He came by my part of the crowd (I was on the front row), I decided to raise my hand in the last second, but it was too late, he gave the opportunity to someone else. He then kept moving to the other sections of the audience. I thought he wouldn't come back to where I was sitting, but he did. As soon as I saw him walking towards my section, I raised my hand. Now before I share my brief but awesome interaction with him, keep in mind that the other members of the audience he talked to worked with traveling, human resources, store-owners & financial stuff. My job was the least attractive one up to that point. This is not 100% accurate of our words of exchange, but almost:

Will: (walking towards me & looking at me while my heart rate goes through the roof, points his finger at me) You? Me: I'm ****** and I work in storage Will: You're ****** and you work in storage…? (Gives an odd look followed by laughter from the crowd) Me: Yeah Will: So you put stuff in boxes & sh!t? Move them around in different positions? Me: Yeah (laughing with the crowd) (Silence from Will while the crowd laughs at his physical reenactment of working in storage) Will: I'm gonna call you Captain Nerd! (at this time the audience laugh even harder, as did I, and I raised my hands and clapped with delight of my new nickname)

It doesn't end there though. By the end of the show he reminisces about what he's said on stage, and says "I've come up with some cool nicknames…" He then turns his head towards me, looks & points at me, gives me a thumbs up and says "Captain Nerd…" In return I give him a thumbs up, and get two thumbs up from him back.

The show ended about 2 minutes later and I walked out as if I was walking on clouds. Before I left the theater I bought a lot of merchandise from the show though! So to sum it all up, great show, lots of laughter & greatest night of my life.

Spoof of George W. Bush.

[michaelRokeefe · 7/10 · 28 March 2009]

First of all I'm not an admirer of #43, President George W. Bush. Nor am I a fan of Will Ferrell, and probably never will be. This HBO special is tasteless, lewd, crude and a barrel of laughs. Ferrell of course lampooned Bush on Saturday Night Live and now has taken it to the stage. Mispronounced words and all the malapropisms along with the schoolboy bully stances and mannerisms are here. Sometimes seeming pointless, Ferrell uses all the ammunition W. gave the nation to find disappointment in. I found the vulgar language and manners a hoot. It actually gives you the feeling you are spending a night with the bitter Texas politician. I have yet to find much to laugh at in Ferrell's juvenile movies, but I did find this project funny. Maybe its just me. The visit does seem a bit too long and redundant. Ferrell's brother Patrick plays a Secret Service agent always standing by and Pia Glenn spoofs Condoleezza Rice.

Overall, Very Funny

[sddavis63 · 8/10 · 8 January 2010]

After what I thought was a rather slow start, Will Ferrell picked up steam in this largely one-man stage play about the life and times and presidency of George W. Bush - the 43rd, former but not too lamented president of the United States. It's sometimes crude (the penis thing was overdone), sometimes bewildering (I never really understood the reference to the time in Vermont with the guy whose name I forget) and some things went on too long (the "wipe that smirk off your face" gag near that weak start - yeah, it was part of the show, and the "giving audience members nicknames" became very tired very fast.) In spite of those weaknesses, though - and unless you're a rabid fan of Bush - this is pretty funny stuff. It really hits its stride once Bush is elected and the review of his presidency begins. There are some truly hilarious moments - the Condi Rice scene was great, as well as some of the Dick Cheney reflections - and even a more or less serious moment, when Ferrell's Bush reflects on those who've died as a result of the war in Iraq. There are a lot of just plain humorous and yet historical anecdotes (like reflections on the "coalition of the willing" - Morocco's offer to send trained monkeys to Iraq and the Solomon Islands joining - in spite of the fact that they have no army - as well as the whole anti-France "freedom fries" silliness.)

Ferrell's performance was pretty good. He had the Bush swagger down pat ("in Texas we call this walking!") and he looked and sounded the part pretty well, the voice leading to a humorous moment questioning why no one else in the entire Bush family has a Texas accent! Even if you are a Bush fan, watch it for what it is - poking fun at a guy who even conservatives would have to admit was a pretty controversial president. 8/10

Unfunny and tired routine that has been done to death (and better) by many others

[bob the moo · 21 February 2010]

I've noticed that any review here that says this was not funny tends to be voted down whereas any review that says it was funny is voted useful, quality of writing seems to be out of the equation and the politics of the situation appear to be the all, because obviously liberals will love anything that mocks conservatives while only red neck racists would not love this film, right? Well, it will make no difference (to borrow a phrase, "haters gonna hate") but as a white, middle class male in my 30's who watches the Daily Show and is "liberal" in most issues, I should have been target audience for this and, if I'm honest I did watch it because I expected to find Bush easy to laugh at and for my own opinions to be reaffirmed in the meantime.

Problem is that this film is so incredibly basic that it just doesn't work. If you take it as an attempt at political satire then it is a total fail because there is almost nothing clever in here; considering the Daily Show ate well for years off the Bush presidency and produced constant material that was as funny as it was cutting. There is nothing here that even comes close. So OK, maybe that is me being unfair to the material because it is clearly not trying to be a biting satire but rather just a basic mocking of Bush based on the idea that he is dumb and fake. This is not anything new and it is a pretty well mined seam for the film to try and get something out of, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt. Problem is that the material is just crude and unfunny without any real invention or wit – the biggest laughs from the crowd come due to a picture of a penis. Add to that the fact that we have almost 3 minutes given over to a moment where Condoleezza Rice does an erotic dance for Bush (in a bit so painful I wondered if it would ever end) and you're starting to get the idea. In fairness it is a Will Ferrell film so one should not be surprised and it does play to the teenage boy market rather anyone used to their political comedy being either (a) political, or (b) funny.

Ferrell is not a good impressionist but, like the material, he goes for the easy route and he vaguely gets there – I know the point is not that he is meant to look or sound particularly like Bush but it does add to the "good enough" feel the film has. Overall I was looking forward to this film but it doesn't deliver. No matter how you look at it (political satire or fish-in-barrel exercise) it isn't funny and has no wit or invention. The "Bush is dumb" line has produced some very funny material in the past, while his terrible presidency has given us some great, cutting satire – this film cannot manage to be even average in either of those camps.

Where Has This Been The Past Fourteen Years!!

[Foutainoflife · 7/10 · 5 June 2023]

So, my husband and I just came across this and my goodness, Will Ferrell's out of control and we loved it!

You either like Ferrell or you don't. His style of comedy is goofy, crude, obnoxious and physical. He holds no punches in this special and really tackles Bush's humorous flaws, fumbles and mannerisms. He talks about the Bush family, his college years, his administration and track record.

Was Bush the best president? NO. However, he was our leader during a trying time in American history and since I'm writing this review in 2023 and hindsight is notoriously 20/20, I can say we've had worse presidents.

I enjoyed it and saw it for the comedic parody it is. If you're gonna scrutinize it any deeper than that, it's probably not going to be a funny watch for you.

(Unexpectedly?) Brilliant Writing

[third_thumb · 9/10 · 29 December 2015]

Even though I've watched this more than 6 years after it came out, the solid writing and the well-timed comedic touches still felt as fresh. I assumed Mr. Ferrell had a team of writers contribute to the show while viewing it, but it turns out he has adopted the character so closely that the writing was all his. And he runs through it without a hitch in a well-choreographed, well-directed, and extremely well-acted play.

You're likely to enjoy it even when you don't usually like his movies. This is not a self-celebratory liberal bashing of George W. Bush at all. You may even sympathize with the guy for being put in a place that turned out to be more demanding than he possibly expected. Definitely worth checking it out...

There is nothing funny about George W. Bush

[lastliberal · 6/10 · 15 March 2009]

I am not a big Will Ferrell fan. I cannot think of a single movie he has made that I enjoyed. That said, I have to admit that he totally personified George W. Bush in this performance. I couldn't even see Ferrell. All I saw throughout was W.

His excellent performance notwithstanding, the show itself was not particularly funny. There is nothing funny about George W. Bush. The pain that he has caused first in Texas, and then on the whole country is no laughing matter. I really tried to find something to laugh at, but I sat there like a deer caught in the headlights the entire time.

Trying to make us laugh at W. is like trying to make us laugh at cancer.

A pathetic attempt to cash in on a once funny bit

[culbeda · 3/10 · 22 March 2009]

Let me start by saying that the commercial that the commercial that Will Ferrell did for ACT before the 2004 election was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. ("Oh, I didn't see you there. I was just mending my fences" while he's hammering on a fence with the back of a pick axe).

This atrocity, was one of the least humorous things I've ever seen. Bush is the easiest comedy fodder on the planet. (And since we live in a world with Sarah Palin, that's saying something.) But Ferrell can't seem to capitalize well on this. The commercial for this bit with the segment of the trees was funnier than anything in this mess.

Now, in fairness to the show, I gave up watching it after about an hour. So maybe it finished strong. But I couldn't wait any longer for it to finally go somewhere.

I gave this 3 stars only because it exposed some of the tragically humorous things about Bush and Cheney to a wider audience. If I were to base this entirely on humor, it would have gotten a 1 or a 2.

Funny

[stietz185 · 10/10 · 24 March 2009]

If you don't find this funny then you either have no sense of humor what-so-ever or you're an up tight conservative that has that stick way too far up their a**! Will Ferrell has George Bush right on the money in this. Believe me, I'm no left-winged liberal by any means but seriously if you can't laugh at this then I don't know if I could classify you as human....I find Will Ferrell childish, yes. But I think he does it better than no one else. Adam Sandler for example is funny in a childish way but he doesn't get me rolling on the ground laughing like Ferrel has a tendency to do. I could see Bush supporters getting their panties in a bunch over this but needless to say most of the depictions of Bush in this film are hilarious and true. I suggest watching this movie, gets a good laugh.

Let it go.

[biff-23 · 3/10 · 16 March 2009]

Usually I like Ferrell, and I like most of his movies, but good Lord, these people just cannot let it go. I am amazed at the double standard between liberals and conservatives in comedy. I am usually the one saying that people need to lighten-up and quit worrying about being politically correct but even I found the Condi Rice scene offensive. Can you imagine the flap if they did a similar scene using Michelle Obama. I don't know what it is about liberals that makes them so unfunny when dealing with political topics. As I said, usually I like Ferrell (albeit that his brand of humor is typically juvenile) and his Bush is not bad but this show was not funny. It belongs in the same unfunny file as Real Time with Bill Maher. I'm just so tired of the same old non-jokes.

A Final "Fight" with George W Bush

[thomas-812 · 10/10 · 5 November 2009]

Will Ferrell is just an amazing actor. To take 8 years of American history on his shoulders in such a funny, awkward, shocking, detailed, eyes-opened, over-the-top, superb, state-of-the-art way is just a great pleasure to watch and a relief that the real life of Mr. Bush as a president is finally over. We just loved to watch Will doing George W. As a German viewer it increased my trust in America. I could not believe my eyes and ears that something like Will Ferrell did here would be ever possibly in USA. It is the second time the past years that my respect for America is back in order. The first time it hit me in a positive way that USA voted for a president (finally) who is black and open minded, and now for a second time Will Ferrell made it possible to understand and digest the live and times of the former president. After I have seen this show my hope for USA is full of best wishes and trust in the future. You're back on track....

Bush Derangement Syndrome is alive and well

[bgillespie24 · 1/10 · 6 August 2009]

Good gravy! I didn't agree with everything President Bush did, far from it. But the insanity on the Left is amazing. It is also pathetic and moronic - like this movie.

Although I can't predict the future, I'm dying to see what happens if 10 years from now Iraq is a successful democracy, and a stabilizing influence in the Middle East. Will the Bush haters admit their mistake? I doubt it; they'll probably huddle up in their hole and wail into the night.

By the way, here is another uncomfortable fact; According to IQ standards Bush sits in the top 5 percent of America. The Left's lie that Bush is somehow stupid is based on his southern accent and malaprops, which are NOT measurements of intelligence. I guess we can add bigotry to the long list of liberal faults.

To Will Ferrell: No Thank You to An Insult in History **1/2

[edwagreen · 5/10 · 2 April 2009]

The show is as simplistic as the Bush Presidency. Liberals will adore it but Conservatives shall loathe it.

Will Ferrell becomes absolutely annoying after a while. While he has the accent down pat and the greatest imitation of the Bush #43 walk down to a science, this show becomes insulting and rather tedious.

The fact remains that George W. Bush was elected president twice and deserves some respect. Notice that the show never mentions Al Gore or John Kerry at all. Where was all the fuss about the 2000 presidential election? How about '04 in Ohio?

Condoleeza Rice should be insulted by this. This show puts her down as some go-go dancer and suggests that Bush had more of an interest in her than just secretary-of-state.

Poland and the other countries participating in the Iraqi offensive are put down.

Psychologists will say that these Bush put-downs really suggest a genuine love for the man. Will history vindicate our 43rd president? The answer to that one will take years to evolve. One thing for sure, this show with Will Ferrell will not be vindicated.

Uncalled For

[sdquinn2-1 · 1/10 · 3 May 2014]

There was absolutely no need to make this pile of dreck. Yeah, yeah, I get it Ferrell, you do not particularly like George W. Bush. Well guess what dip wad, a majority of Americans elected him President twice, so it is time to just get over it. Fact of the matter is that George W. Bush was a much better President than you are a comedian. As a matter of fact Carrot Top is a better comedian than you are. As for this movie it is the lowest of the low, with uncalled for insults, and at one point racial humor aimed at Condeleezza Rice. Since Will Ferrell has no problem with racist humor, and since Obama is 10 times worse than George W. Bush ever thought about being, I guess in 2016 American can look forward to Will Ferrell appearing on HBO in blackface to skewer Odumba.

Watchable, though nothing outstanding here really...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 15 July 2022]

I stumbled upon the 2009 comedy "You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush" here in 2022. And of course I am somewhat familiar with Will Ferrell's impressions of George W. Bush, so of course I opted to sit down and watch this comedy.

Well, there were bits and pieces here and there throughout the nearly two hours that were funny, but I have to say that I was only mildly entertained throughout the course of "You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush". So this is not something where I feel that I had been missing out on a comedy gem.

Maybe it is because I am not American that this particular comedy show short of fell short on entertaining and amusing me.

I will say, though, that Will Ferrell definitely feels at home on the stage and delivers quite well, and he does do manage to keep the impression fairly adequate throughout the course of the show.

Ultimately, then I was only mildly entertained here, and that results in a mediocre five out of ten stars from me.