In 2016 Adam McKay won an Oscar for The Big Short, his film about the financial crash of 2008 that was based on the book by Michael Lewis. But before this McKay had made a particular brand of smart comedy, that’s also pretty dumb too. Films like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby , and Step Brothers. Many of them starring Will Ferrell.

In this video essay Patrick Williams takes an in-depth look at McKay’s work and how it functions as a comedic take on society in general.

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