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| Anchorman (2004)
 
Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Fred Willard, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Chris Parnell, Vince VaughnDirector: Adam McKay Rating: PG-13 Category: Comedy  |
Here’s a quick testament to how Hollywood functions: When the comedic team of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay first pitched the smart and uncensored satire “Anchorman,” the studios quickly turned it down. As soon as Ferrell became a star, though, the screenplay suddenly became comedic gold and was frantically churned into a summer blockbuster. Ferrell’s “Anchorman” finally gives us a comedy that has more wit in its tightly packed script than most could imagine.
In a time when cable TV was nonexistent and only men were allowed to read the news, Ron Burgundy (Ferrell) is at the top of his game. As San Diego’s top-rated newsman, Burgundy is ablaze with a hefty ego and the perfect sign-off: “Stay classy, San Diego.” Followed by a news team of equally chauvinistic male friends – “on the street” guy Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), closet gay sportscaster Champ Kind (David Koechner) and mentally challenged weatherman Brick Tamland (Steve Carell) – Burgundy is a local hero just waiting for his call to the big leagues. When station manager Ed Harken (Fred Willard) brings the incredibly sexy but competitive Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) in to help “diversify” the station, Ron and his gang aren’t happy.
While Ron Burgandy’s chest proudly displays a jungle of hair, the film has more bald spots than the audience would prefer. The script, while strong on wit, doesn’t really take off until after the first 20 minutes and even then, there are still plenty of comedic punches that Ferrell and the rest of cast fail to land. Fortunately, Ferrell and McKay have loaded the script with so many jokes that most of the ones that don’t work are shortly offset by a successful chain of successful gags.
Whether the news team breaks into song or into a newsman rumble with the other local anchormen (played with fabulously styled cameos by Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, Tim Robbins and Ben Stiller), the group of four comedians is hilarious. Rudd is pure talent who’s finally getting the chance he’s deserved after his recurring role on “Friends” while Carell steals nearly every scene with his downplayed timidity. Farrell scores big once again as the brilliantly concocted Burgundy, and with each successful film the rising comedian continues to be reminiscent of the late Peter Sellers.
Cashing in on Ferrell’s comedic genius and enlisting some incredible cameos, including the aforementioned as well as Jack Black, “Anchorman” is non-stop laughs for the smart viewer. While many won’t quite understand what Ferrell is trying to accomplish in his satire of the 1970s news world, the film still provides an entertaining ride.
~Jason Zingale
jzingale@bullz-eye.com