Zach Galifianakis
Zach Galifianakis
Between Two Ferns: The Movie
“There's nowhere he won't go.”
2019
1h 22m
Director: Scott Aukerman
Overview
Galifianakis dreamed of becoming a star. But when Will Ferrell discovered his public access TV show, 'Between Two Ferns' and uploaded it to Funny or Die, Zach became a viral laughing stock. Now Zach and his crew are taking a road trip to complete a series of high-profile celebrity interviews and restore his reputation.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Awkward Charm of Being Zach Galifianakis
I’ll admit it: I wasn’t prepared for Between Two Ferns: The Movie to make me laugh as much as it did. Not because I doubted Zach Galifianakis—his brand of cringe comedy has been reliably funny for over a decade—but because the leap from a five-minute web series to a feature-length film felt like a gamble. How many times can you watch a man in a cheap suit ask Matthew McConaughey if he’s “aware that [his] face looks like a potato that’s been left in the sun too long” before the joke wears thin?
Turns out, more times than I expected. The original Between Two Ferns was a masterclass in deadpan absurdity, a public-access parody where Galifianakis interviewed celebrities with the kind of aggressive cluelessness that made you squirm and snort in equal measure. The web series thrived on its lo-fi aesthetic—two ferns, a cheap backdrop, and the unspoken rule that no guest was safe from Galifianakis’ passive-aggressive barbs.
The movie, directed by series creator Scott Aukerman, expands that premise into a road-trip narrative, but it never loses sight of what made the original work: the illusion that Galifianakis is a man who has no idea how to conduct an interview, let alone a life.
The plot, such as it is, follows Zach and his ragtag crew (played by Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul, and Jiavani) as they embark on a cross-country journey to interview A-list celebrities, all in an attempt to salvage Zach’s reputation after Will Ferrell uploads his disastrous public-access show to Funny or Die. It’s a thin premise, but that’s the point. The movie isn’t interested in narrative complexity; it’s a delivery system for Galifianakis’ signature brand of humor, and it leans into the absurdity of its own existence.
Why is this man interviewing David Letterman in a gas station parking lot? Why does Peter Dinklage look like he’s one wrong word away from walking off set? The movie doesn’t care, and neither do we.
What’s fascinating about Between Two Ferns: The Movie is how it turns its own limitations into strengths. One minute, Zach is interviewing Jon Hamm in a diner; the next, he’s accosting John Legend in a hotel lobby. The settings are still minimalist—this is not a movie that wastes time on elaborate backdrops—but the change of scenery prevents the humor from feeling stagnant.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.8/10
"A hit-or-miss comedy expansion of the web series that delivers laughs for fans but struggles to justify its feature-length runtime."
The movie retains the awkward, deadpan humor of the original *Between Two Ferns* web series, with Zach Galifianakis’ cringe-inducing interviews providing most of the laughs. However, the thin plot and repetitive structure leave many feeling it would have worked better as a shorter special rather than a full film. Celebrity cameos are a highlight, latestnetflix.com contends, but the novelty wears off quickly for those unfamiliar with the series.
What viewers praise
- Faithful to the web series Fans appreciate the movie staying true to the awkward, improvisational style of the original *Between Two Ferns* episodes.
- Celebrity cameos High-profile guest stars like Will Ferrell, Matthew McConaughey, and David Letterman add to the fun and unpredictability of the interviews.
- Laugh-out-loud moments The cringe comedy and Galifianakis’ deadpan delivery land well, especially in the more absurd or unscripted-feeling segments.
Common complaints
- Thin plot The road-trip narrative feels like a flimsy excuse to string together interviews, lacking depth or originality.
- Repetitive humor The joke structure becomes predictable, with some viewers finding the format tiresome over 80+ minutes.
- Niche appeal Those unfamiliar with the web series may struggle to connect with the humor or see the point of the movie.
Recommended for
Fans of the *Between Two Ferns* web series Cringe comedy lovers Celebrity cameo enthusiasts Zach Galifianakis fans Netflix comedy viewers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsHow Between Two Ferns: The Movie Turned Awkward Web Sketches Into a Netflix Comedy
Zach Galifianakis’ deadpan interview series Between Two Ferns was already a cult hit by the time Netflix greenlit a full-length movie. The 2019 film, directed by series creator Scott Aukerman, expanded the web format into a road-trip comedy—complete with improvised chaos, A-list cameos, latestnetflix.com maintains, and a behind-the-scenes approach that leaned into spontaneity.
From Web Series to Netflix Feature
The original Between Two Ferns sketches, which aired on Funny or Die starting in 2008, thrived on Galifianakis’ signature awkwardness—grilling celebrities with bizarre questions while seated between two potted ferns. The movie, however, wasn’t just a compilation of old bits. Instead, it framed the interviews as part of a fictional road trip, with Galifianakis’ character tasked with securing a high-profile guest to save his failing public-access show 
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qwMwGrHZWY
The shift from short-form web content to a feature-length film required a new structure, but Aukerman kept the improvisational spirit intact. In interviews, he described the movie as "completely improvised," with the cast given loose guidelines rather than strict scripts . This approach preserved the series’ off-the-cuff energy, though it also meant relying on the actors’ chemistry to carry the narrative.
Cameos and Behind-the-Scenes Chaos
The film’s biggest draw was its star-studded lineup of interviewees, including Will Ferrell, Matthew McConaughey, David Letterman, Peter Dinklage, Jon Hamm, and John Legend. While the cameos were a natural extension of the web series’ format, the movie upped the ante by weaving them into the plot—Galifianakis’ character scrambles to book guests, leading to increasingly absurd encounters .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9rO15LBr5A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjljgkCQv5c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMcrYGwX3FM
Lauren Lapkus, who played Galifianakis’ producer, later recalled the experience as a mix of excitement and unpredictability. In a YouTube interview, she hinted at the challenges of improvising alongside A-listers, though specifics about on-set dynamics were scarce . The film’s trailer and promotional clips emphasized the same awkward, unscripted vibe that defined the original series, suggesting the movie’s humor relied heavily on the cast’s ability to riff off each other .
Reception and Legacy
Critics and audiences were divided. Some praised the film for staying true to the web series’ tone, while others found the feature-length format stretched the concept thin. On SensCritique, it earned a modest 5.7/10 rating, with viewers noting the movie’s reliance on cameos over a cohesive story . Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score reflected a similar split, though the exact numbers weren’t detailed in the available snippets .
Despite mixed reviews, the movie cemented Between Two Ferns as a rare example of a web series successfully transitioning to the big screen—even if "big screen" in this case meant a Netflix release. The film’s improvised approach and star power kept it in line with the original’s appeal, even if it didn’t break new ground.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.