Directed by: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carrell, David Koechner, Vince Vaughn, Christina Applegate
Anchorman tells the funny story of a 1970's San Diego TV news anchorman whose professional and personal lives are turned upside down by the introduction of workplace diversity. Or more specifically, the introduction of a female co-anchor. Ron Burgundy (Ferrell) is the leader of an all-male news team, which include a macho sportscaster Champ Kind (Koechner), clueless weatherman Brick Tamland (Carrell), and ladies' man wannabe Brian Fantana (Rudd). Unable to accept Veronica (Applegate) as an equal, they interact with her in ways that would be construed as sexual harassment today. Despite this, Veronica and Ron fall in love while the #2 news station in town, led by egotistical Wes Mantooth (Vaughn), is trying to topple them in the ratings.
Many scenes in Anchorman are funny, including the guys' lame pick-up lines on Veronica. ("I have a party in my pants, would you like to come?") Brian's use of a cologne so strong "it is banned in eighteen countries" causes the workplace to evacuate due to the smell. "It smells like Bigfoot's dick," someone observes as he's fleeing the office holding his nose. Ron, while secretly liking Veronica, tries to impress her with his biceps and weightlifting in his office. Champ doesn't have much success either, but how could he? He may be half in-love with Ron. Also funny is that Burgundy reads anything that is put on the teleprompter, which gets him in plenty of hot water.
Ferrell plays Burgundy with a porn-star mustache and a huge ego. He is in love with himself and Ferrell has a ball playing him. However, he isn't such a bad guy. You can even forgive his habit of trying to impress people with the books on his shelves that he surely never read. When Ferrell first transitioned to movies, I wasn't impressed by his comedic style, but he has grown on me. He excels when he plays someone putting on a false front of sophistication and decorum with monstrous passions lurking underneath. The more absurd the character, the more joy Ferrell brings to it.
The first half of Anchorman is much funnier than the second, but there are enough laughs here to recommend it. The characters are goofy, but likable. There is even a quasi-violent gangland style showdown between rival TV stations where rules such as "Don't hit the face" are unwritten laws. If you don't have a pretty face, how can expect anyone to believe you when you say things like "You stay classy San Diego."? The satire here is scarcely ahead of the truth.
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