Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (McKay, 2004)

Here's my first blog review post, one of my favorite that I've written. It's of Adam McKay's 2004 comedy film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Not a movie genre I normally watch, but it's still a fun film that I thoroughly enjoy.  

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (McKay, 2004) 

Normally, modern-day comedy films starring the likes of Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, and Adam Sandler remain nothing more than two hours of a non-sensical plot filled with childish bathroom humor and pointless sex jokes. However, Will Ferrell's "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" achieves a level of comedy that combines the contemporary feel with the classic humor of slapstick and high comedy.

"Anchorman" tells of the rise and fall of news anchorman Ron Burgundy, played with hilarious yet uncharacteristically subdued effect by Will Ferrell. Burgundy helps his Channel 4 network to become the number one news program in San Diego, much to the dissatisfaction of several other network anchors (played in cameo appearances by Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, and Tim Robbins). Burgundy is aided by his dim-witted news team, including sportscaster "Champ" Kind, on-scene investigator Brian Fantana, and weatherman Brick Tamland, effectively portrayed by David Koechner, Paul Rudd, and Steve Carell, respectively.

However, times are changing in the news world, and soon Burgundy and his team are forced to work with a new, rising female journalist named Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate). Hilarity ensues as the news team tries one-by-one to date and ultimately remove the cold as ice Corningstone, but only Burgundy is able to capture her heart after several failed attempts. But Burgundy faces new problems everyday, and these trials lead to a cause and effect ripple that threatens to destroy everything Burgundy holds dear.

"Anchorman" rises to a level beyond most modern-day comedies, finding a happy medium between adolescent humor and high comedy. Ferrell's performance provides a classic character that entertains from start to finish, and the whole ensemble provides several laughs throughout the course of the movie. Steve Carrell, as unintelligent and clueless weatherman Brick, takes a stock supporting role to a whole new level, from his first forecast all the way through his role in a singing quartet about love with the other members of Channel 4 news team. Iconic scenes, including a jazz flute performance at a nightclub and a street brawl between the network news teams, fill the film and keep the action moving and entertaining. The movie is also more quotable than most comedies in film history.

But the most delightful portions of "Anchorman" come from the most subtle of dialogue and actions. There's a restaurant called "Escupimos en su Alimento", which is Spanish for "we spit in your food". Channel 4's news director Ed Harkin frequently speaks on the phone with a school principal about his sons various exploits, including firing a bow and arrow into a crowd while high on acid. Even the news reported on Channel 4 satirizes the Action News format, with "serious breaking news" such as a squirrel on a jet ski and an overarching report of a pregnant panda bear. The tongue-in-cheek dialogue stays spot on, and even usually annoying bathroom humor is used with excellent effect.

"Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" is by no means a great film, but for what it is, it remains a modern comedy classic that appeals to all ages and is a highlight in the oftentimes questionable repertoire of Will Ferrell. Stay classy, moviegoers.

Four out of five stars.