Finally! For years upon years I have spent the months leading up to Eurovision perpetually confusing my peers with references to the famed competition. Whether it’s telling my friends that they’re receiving nul points from moi or my incessant need to break into song to ABBA’s “Waterloo,” Loreen’s “Euphoria,” or even Netta’s “Toy” when my iTunes shuffle lands on them — the looks of horror that I’ve received from the inhabitants of this continent have reminded me that people just don’t know what Eurovision is. Thanks to Will Ferrell and the corporate opportunists at Netflix, those days have come and gone. 

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga picks up with Lars Erickssong (Ferrell) and Sígrit Ericksdottír (Rachel McAdams), two Icelandic underperformers from the small village of Húsavík. Inspired by ABBA’s victory in 1974 for Sweden, Erickssong and Ericksdottír spend decades working towards their goal of winning the contest until through a series of unfortunate and improbable events — involving elves, government corruption, Demi Lovato, and explosions — Fire Saga are chosen to represent Iceland in Edinburgh, Scotland. 

Upon their arrival in the UK, they are introduced to two of their rival contestants: Russian pop star Alexander Lemtov (Dan Stevens) and Greek diva-goddess Mita (Melissanthi Mahut). Because this wouldn’t be a classic rom-com without the presence of a messy love-square between these characters, naturally funny business occurs. The “will-they-won’t-they” dynamic between the sexually tone-deaf Lars and the timid Sígrit (who might or might not be related because #JustIcelandProblems) can be annoying at times, but luckily Lemtov’s entrance dynamic duo helps to resolve that plot point by the end of the film. 

Rather than opine upon the messy duo’s performances — you really need to watch the film if you want to appreciate just how quirky those are — I instead would like to acknowledge the unsung hero of this film: Dan Stevens. Stevens’ portrayal of Lemtov is simply superb. Stevens could portray a literal wastebin on the side of the freeway and he would do it with such grace and talent that he’d be deserving of a BAFTA. On the other hand, “Jaja Ding Dong” is probably the only song that you’re going to remember from the film’s original soundtrack. This sexually-charged folk song is so catchy that you’ll start feeling a kindred connection to Olaf, the Húsavík resident who compels Lars and Sígrit to sing the song multiple times in Húsavík’s sole bar. 

Is this film perfect? No. Will you understand all of the references if you aren’t a Eurovision fan? Most definitely you will not — but Ferrell, our fellow countryman, knows this. Anytime that you see the American tourists in the film asking for the nearest Starbucks or if the Eurovision Song Contest is similar to The Voice, you are being acknowledged for your cultural insularity — and that’s OK. Just sit down, relax, and enjoy the flamboyant catastrophe that is Fire Saga. Then pop online and start looking at Eurovision songs. The gate is wide open, and you’re invited into the fandom. 

If after all this, you need to gleam a moral from this story — I have two for you. America ruins everything it touches, and ABBA have the supernatural power to make all dreams come true. If you’re beyond ABBA’s help, then maybe it’s time to pray to the elves.