For many comic actors, making people laugh just isn't enough. The likes of Jim Carrey and Steve Carell, who have made careers for themselves as all-out funny men, have chosen projects that aren't all about the ha ha ha.

It's far from being a modern phenomenon; Charlie Chaplin certainly knew how to make them laugh, but he also often imbued a sensitivity to his characters, giving them more depth than just being a slapstick clown.

Now it seems it's the turn of Saturday Night Live alumnus Will Ferrell to show a more sensitive side in Everything Must Go.

Having lost his job and have his wife leave him, it's fair to say that Nick Halsey (Ferrell) is having a bad day. He returns home after being sacked to find that his wife has thrown all his stuff out onto the front lawn and has had all the locks changed so he can't get inside their home. No wonder he turns to drink. Actually, being a recovering alcoholic, it's no surprise that these events pushed Nick over the edge.

With his life in pieces, Nick has trouble working out what to do next. So he just sits there, on his lawn, in his La-Z Boy chair, surrounded by his worldly possessions.

But with the help of young , non-sporty Kenny (Christopher Jordon Wallace), Nick decides that the things he owns aren't that important to him, so decides to sell them all, there and then. And although his wife isn't returning any of his calls, Nick starts to believe that ridding himself of all his stuff, is just the kind of clean slate that could be the starting point for the both of them, to give them what Nick thinks they need: a fresh start. But with Nick drinking again, he might need more than that to get not only his wife back, but also his life.

I'm not sure, but I may have taken this whole 'glamping' too far.

Ferrell's CV to date has been skewed towards the slightly warped end of the comedy spectrum. His role as Ron Burgundy, for instance, has made the film Anchorman a modern cult comedy classic. But perhaps the 44-year-old actor has reached a time in his life when he wanted to play a character with a little more pathos, even if it might be for the only rime in his career.

It's odd that he took the plunge to do so with debut director/writer Dan Rush, but the risk certainly paid off. Everything Must Go has an indie heart despite its Hollywood star. Without Ferrell in the lead, much of the deadpan humour would most certainly have been lost. But even with its inclusion, this is no out and out comedy.

You'd be hard pushed not to feel sorry for Ferrell's character; he brings a level of warmth and amiability to him, despite his flaws. Even though he doesn't make a particularly good drunk (is there such a thing?), the circumstances which lead to him falling off of the proverbial wagon are understandable. On top of that, he even manages to keep audiences on his side surrounding the ambiguity regarding why he lost his job in the first place.

It must have been a real challenge for newbie Rush in holding Ferrell back from going all out with his comic spiel, but the restraint shown pays off. The film is beautifully underwritten, allowing Ferrell in particular, to give emotional weight to his character, and letting him convey it just as much through physical performance as much as verbally. A lot of it is extremely subtle, which is all the more impressive considering the film's star.

There are also some nice performances too from the young Wallace, as well as Rebecca Hall as the pregnant neighbour.

Although the film drifts a little towards its conclusion, Ferrell is completely compelling, making sure you don't leave his side until the very end.

Rush has made an impressive debut as both director and writer, making him certainly one to look out for in future projects.

And if Ferrell went out to prove that not only can he make us laugh, but he can act as well, then it's a job well done. That's not to say the return of Ron Burgundy wouldn't be a welcome one, but Ferrell can at least now consider himself a bone fide actor, as opposed to just a funny man.

Everything Must go is an ultra-lightweight drama, and although it might not be the type of film Ferrell's fans expect, they might be pleasantly surprised, alongside those who wouldn't normally pay to see a Ferrell comedy vehicle. In any case, it has to be a win/win for Ferrell, whichever way you look at it.