Do you remember all those years where the idea of an Anchorman sequel really excited everyone. Well we asked for it and now Ron Burgundy (or Will Ferrell dressed up) has starred in a ton of car commercials, appeared on every possible talk show (TV and radio) and completely overhyped Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. But we saw it anyway. The sequel has Ferrell and his team getting back together to work on the first 24 hour news network. The plot features everything from Forrest Gump-like historical explanations to bizarre science fiction. After all, John C. Reilly plays the ghost of Stonewall Jackson.
The cast of the original returns with their collective and individual celebrity status much larger than last time. The film recognizes that as their parts have been expanded. Steve Carell’s dim-witted Brick gets a love interested, played by Kristen Wiig. Brian Fontana, played by Paul Rudd, has become a famous cat photographer and has a visible increase in screen time. There are too many actors in the film to acknowledge them all, but the cameo list is quite epic. Mirroring the battle between rival news stations in the last film, there is a similar scene filled with Hollywood A-listers, comedians and some other random celebrities. This is definitely the film’s most memorable moment.
While I know many view the first Anchorman as comedic perfection, I don’t necessarily see it that way. Both the original and sequel have laugh worthy moments spread out through a lot of forgettable build-up. Crediting Burgundy for the rise of sensationalist news coverage is a fun plot device, but the film is too long and gives itself too much credit. We wanted an Anchorman 2, but that doesn’t give the writers (Adam McKay and Will Ferrell) a free pass to jam in every Anchorman related idea they have had since the last one came out in 2004. I definitely laughed my share while watching, but it’s not the legendary effort it was hyped as.
Each film earns either zero, a half or a full arrow in five categories. The categories are Acting, Writing/Directing, Emotion, Innovation and Overall Impression. The arrows are added up to equal the full score.
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