Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Director: Adam McKay
Cast: Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Christina Applegate
Classification: 13 DLPS
Running Time: 112 minutes
Rating: ***
I don’t really need you to stop what you’re doing and listen. The trailer-perfect catchphrase from now pop culture figure Ron Burgundy (Ferrell) needed to be turned on its head to describe the non-urgency to this film.
Anchorman 2 is good for a quick laugh but is not hilarious. The comedy relies much on Ferrell’s portrayal of an absurd character who has no sense of parenting or people skills.
The plot reunites a stellar comedy cast for the next step in the story of American TV: round-the-clock cable news.
Beyond the flamboyance and broken marriage and friendship stories, Anchorman 2 has a clear message: the dangers of owners being too involved in editorial decisions.
The film lampoons the dawn of cable with much fun. If there are any more Anchorman films, I’m pretty sure they will have a battle scene. Look out for cameos here from the likes of Kanye West.
The fashion, if you can call it that, and sets are pure seventies throwbacks. The burgundy suits and thick fur make for good dress-up but would be an eyesore for day-to-day wear.
In this instalment, Burgundy falls from TV news grace and his wife Veronica Corningstone (Applegate) gets a solo national news stint.
An opportunity comes along for Burgundy to reunite his San Diego news team for a graveyard shift at the new GNN television news station.
The channel is a gauntlet of competing news teams fighting for audience share and a boss who mixes work with her pleasure. Watch as Linda Jackson (Meagan Good) pulls Burgundy to a mess of power, success and questionable editorial decisions.
His outlandish choice of stories sets precedents in their universe marking the beginning of soft news and the American obsession with live televised car chases.
If there ever is an Anchorman 3, let’s see what McKay and Ferrell come up with for the world of PVR, VOD and YouTube. Or maybe VCR first.
If you liked Talladega Nights or Blades of Glory you will like this.