What is it that’s so funny about a middle-aged, unattractive man screaming, “Everybody come see how good I look!”? In our interview with the film’s star, Will Ferrell says it best, “Everybody likes to play an overly confident idiot” and it’s just what he does best.
In Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Burgundy is the lead anchor of the male-dominated San Diego, Calif., Channel 4 News Team. His news buddies include field reporter Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), sports cowboy Champ Kind (David Koechner), and weatherman Brick Tamland (Steve Carell).
Don’t let this seemingly dim crew fool you; they are all individual masters at improvisation. The beauty of Anchorman comes from the humor skillfully scattered throughout the film by its talented cast. The quote-worthy comedy reaches its peak with the controversial addition of newswoman Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) into the news team.
Anchorman is absolutely hilarious in all of its dim-witted, shallow, and sexist antics. The audience might find itself in a pickle over whether to laugh at the pathetic anchors and their jokes or walk out offended that such stupidity could pass off as comedy.
Ferrell‘s and Carell‘s performances are their best yet. Watch as Ferrell goes into a screaming hysteria when an angry biker (Jack Black) punts his beloved pet dog, Baxter, into a lake. In an emotional call from a phone booth to coworker Fantana, who asks him where he is, Burgundy wails, “I’m in a glass case of emotion!”
Stupid? Yes. Predictable? Yes. Classic? You betcha. Despite its lack of a plot or any intellectually stimulating material whatsoever, Anchorman‘s humor is in a class all its own. The fluid humor it possesses is unlike the formulaic comedy in other popular films of this same genre. Do yourself a favor and go see it, you won’t be sorry.
