Ron Burgundy is the top-rated anchorman in San Diego in the 70s. When feminism marches into the newsroom in the form of ambitious newswoman Veronica Corningstone Ron is willing to play along at first-as long as Veronica stays in her place covering cat fashion shows cooking and other female interests. But when Veronica refuses to settle for being eye candy and steps behind the news desk its more than a battle between two perfectly coiffed anchor-persons... its war.
Review
The most devoted cineastes and the average hoi polloi moviegoers both need to kick back and laugh without probing or analysis at a goofball outrageously funny comedy with zero depth. And thats exactly what director Adam McKay (also cowriter with star Will Ferrell) provides in "Anchorman." A very warm summer day like today was perfect for the quick gags and physical comedy of this nutty flick. Maybe its even more of a relief for us folks who are still arguing with each other about "Fahrenheit 911" and "Control Room" documentaries that make us confront a difficult present and a tenuous future.
Will Ferrell is TV news anchor Ron Burgundy in 1970s San Diego. This is PreB.W. (Barbara Walters) a dark age when men reported the news almost exclusively. Burgundy shallow and selfabsorbed without redemption chases skirts and is so genuinely stupid he reads ANYTHING on the teleprompter. His news crew consists of adulators and one misfit Brick Tamland played with unremitting mental blankness by Steve Carrell. Burgundys dog is a delight a pooch who can bark in a few languages.
The "Mens Club" is jolted by the station honchos decision to add a woman to the newsroom largely to appease the network satraps. He says its necessary in the interests of "diversity" a word one staff member doesnt even understand. Enter pretty but tough Veronica Corningstone Christina Applegate. Applegate makes what really is a tough comedic role work completely.
A misadventure by Burgundy results in Veronicas pinchhitting chance to anchor the evening news. Veronica scores big time. She and Ron are already lovers and she expects him to be thrilled that his absence was her big break. No way and the rest of the film is Rons Revenge and Veronicas Counterattack.
A subplot is the rivalry between Ron and his crew and the mobile news gatherers of competing stations. This ends in a donnybrook reminiscent of the silent film era having no rhyme or reason. The other stations combatants are led by Vince Vaughn Ben Stiller and Tim Robbins. Robbins one of the most intelligent and versatile personalities in film and stage today should be watched closely. He almost loses his composure acting the zany script. Even Jack Black makes it into the flick as a dedicated junkie.
Dont miss the outtakes as the end credits role especially Ferrells last comment on what the movie really is.
Pure summer funlaugh be happy.
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