Top 5: Will Ferrell Team-Ups

At this point your opinion of Will Ferrell is likely set in stone. You either don't get why people find him funny or if you're like me you enjoy his absurdist man-boy comedic sensibilities. If you're camp #2 you also know that Ferrell's comedies work best when he has a partner or two to play with. Whether they're the straight man simply reacting to Ferrell's antics or someone with complimentary quirks, his funniest moments come with someone else. Bearing this, and his upcoming team-up with Amy Poehler and Jason Mantzoukas The House in mind, here are five of Ferrell's best movie team-ups.

#5 Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis in The Candidate

This movie doesn't have the same following as Ferrell more famous comedies but the pairing of Ferrell's John Edwards inspired jerkward and Zach Galifianakis' soft-spoken Southerner works really well for me. Perhaps its the giant contrast in their personalities, Ferrell going for big air and Galifianakis' going against type as the quiet one, or the disastrous debates and public appearences involving the two, but the energy here is beautiful symbiotic.

#4 Will Ferrell and John C. Reiley in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

I think it's hard to convey who John C. Reiley was up until this point. For years, Reiley had been a character actor mainstay making a name for himself in awkward guy supporting roles in Paul Thomas Anderson movies. As it turns out he's also a natural comedian and his turn as Cal Naughton is amazing. While this movie is undoubtedly Ferrell's show, he's in his typical wildman mode, Reiley nearly walks away with a number of scenes thanks to some hilarious asides including how he imagines Jesus in a tuxedo t-shirt and persistently calling Ricky about their relationship. Shake-N-Bake!

#3 Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in The Other Guys

In a rare reversal, Ferrell plays the quiet one in this buddy cop comedy. There's so many reasons this works so well. Mark Wahlberg actively making fun of his bad-boy persona. Will Ferrell calmly delivering insults and incompetence. Granted Ferrell has to lose his cool by the end, adopting a pimp persona known as Gator, but it's a lot of fun to see comparatively subdued work from him.

#2 Will Ferrell and John C. Reiley in Step-Brothers

The only reason this movie works is the matching man-child energy of Ferrell and Reiley as the two adult children still living with their respective parents. With the added benefit of the R-rating the duo gets to dip into crude insults, cruder pranks, to amplify their highjinks. Be it their terrible interviews, their worse business proposals, or the exchange where they become best friends, Ferrell and Reiley are in perfect sync.

#1 Will Ferrell and the Channel 4 News Team in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

The only non-duo on the list wins out for a lot of reasons. Quotability, chemistry, and the performances are all big reasons, but the fact that each member of the team is perfectly cast doesn't hurt. Paul Rudd gets to bring his offbeat comedic energy to a supposed ladies man, Steve Carrell gets to play an idiot, David Koechner brings all of the cowboy sportscaster stereotypes to life, and of course Ferrell turns in what is probably his signature role as Ron Burgundy. This is a movie where this group breaks into "Afternoon Delight" at the drop of a hat...and somehow it works.