Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

I shall begin this review by saying I have not seen the first Anchorman (shocking I know), and that I honestly cannot abide Will Ferrell. He’s like the comedy school student who dropped out halfway through, and rather cringeworthy. However..

I bloody loved Anchorman 2.

Cast

The cast are a bloody brilliant ensemble. Not just the four main men, but the supporting artists too.

Will Ferrell – Ron Burgandy

Steve Carell – Brick Tamland

Paul Rudd – Brian Fantana

David Koechner – Champ Kind

Christina Applegate – Veronica Corningstone

Meagan Good – Linda Jackson

James Marsden – Jack Lime

Kristen Wiig – Chani

Dylan Baker – Freddie Shapp

Fantastic Humour

This movie made me ‘LOL’ – on more than one occasion. In fact, I found myself revelling in the stupidity on screen. Anchorman is quite literally like a different planet – its twisted and surreal, but is glorious escapism.

Without having to try, the cast deliver plenty of ‘LOL’ moments and keep the movie running with very watchable fluidity. The gags come thick and fast, and one or two moments genuinely made me hoot with laughter. One moment specifically stands out, and as irrelevant as it may be there is a scene where the four men are stood in a hallway, looking at a picture – suddenly, they all let out a raspy, almost mock laugh (very loudly) – and then they instantly cut and move on to the next scene..

I was in bloody stitches! But why was it so damn funny?! I usually hate ‘stupid humour’ movies such as this. Yet I was lapping up every single moment.

Give Them Credit

I’m unsure if this was supposed to fit in with the whole genre of movie, but the credits seemed to go on forever. I noticed that just a few minutes in (a few minutes in movie time is long enough to get the action going) the credits were still popping up. I thought we were well into the film, where one scene sees Ron’s wife Veronica talking about something important – and suddenly.. ‘co-starring Josh Lawson’ appeared on screen.

I am not a moaner by the way – just thought I’d point this out.

..OK, I’m a bit of a moaner.

Eyes Surprise

Is it me, or are Christina Applegate’s eyes bloody amazing?! No, I don’t mean sexy – or beautiful – or ‘I would’ – I literally mean amazing.

Whenever she was on screen, I was mesmerised at her lack of pupils and mass of gloss; her mince pies are incredible. Almost robotic and very shiny, she reminds me of one of the Stepford Wives. Deep and almost unreadable. Was I the only audience member playing a brief game of ‘Spot The Iris’?

Laughter Is Definitely The Best Medicine

You know that feeling when seeing someone roaring with laughter makes you laugh? One particular scene did exactly that.

As Ron, Brick, Brian and Champ make their way to GNN where they have been offered their own news programme, they sit in the back of Ron’s camper-van enjoying deep conversation. But when Brick starts talking, the atmosphere becomes hysterical.

Brick (Carell) drops a comment and begins chuckling. The chuckling turns into roaring laughter – the laughter then practically becomes screaming. Yet the more he laughed, the more it made me laugh. I bloody loved it!

Infectious laughter is a wonderful experience, and this scene was fucking hilarious to watch. Just superb.

Costume

The whole time era was captured superbly by the costumes and set. Big afro hair, flares, moustaches which seemed more of a fashion statement than facial hair. Overall the costumes were fantastic, vibrant.

The soundtrack used for the movie is superb; a cocktail of classic artists such as Kenny Loggins, Hot Chocolate, Neil Diamond and John Waite. Blasted loudly across an auditorium, the funky tunes sounded fantastic and blended nicely with the style of movie.

“Ooowrah-woo-rah-woo-wa-roah”

Why did I find Jack Lime mocking Ron so damn hilarious? When the boys arrive at GNN and stand staring at the “magnificent” news anchor, he turns round and catches them staring – and subsequently mocks Ron whilst asking if he wants his autograph.

The surreal way he suddenly leans forward and erupts with “Ooowrah-woo-rah-woo-wa-roah” made me LOL in delight.

I may an odd kid, but I revelled in this split-second oddity.

See if you can spot it.

Black Pudding

Watch out for the ‘dinner table scene’ – its just hilarious.

When Ron meets the parents of his girlfriend Linda, it kicks off royally. Yes, after dinner our anchorman offers Linda’s relatives a hefty portion of black pudding, as he basically uses every racial slur in the book he can find – at first, simply jesting but then becoming more and more insulting to the family of black people around him.

It is one of those classic scenarios where you’re thinking, “shut up, shut up, SHUT UP NOW!” and makes you cringe but cry (with laughter) at the same time. And this comes after his first meeting with Linda, when his first word at seeing her is “black” – which he then repeats again and again. Hilarious, I loved it.

Brick’s Weather Report

From the trailer, I was expecting to roar with laughter at Brick’s weather report – but did not. It was edited really badly. I got ready to indulge in the clip we see in the trailer – instead, it cuts out then returns to him – and then throws another bit in.

I’m unsure if my opinion on the editing is bad because of the trailer (generally, they have to jack the movie up in the advertising) or because the scene was actually poorly constructed. Either way, the result was like a deflated balloon.

Anchor-Off

A nice surprise toward the end of the movie, where groups of news anchors from various television stations across the world make an appearance. As random as it is, the scenario unfolds in the middle of a park, where Ron has to fight his way out. But the surprise comes as each celebrity appears..

I had no idea they would cameo in the movie, but we got the likes of:

Jim Carey

Will Smith

Sacha Baron Cohen

Tina Fey

Liam Neeson

I liked this bit. One of those comedies where a bunch of well-known celebs club together and make a nice cameo support act. Added a nice dash of spice.

What Went Wrong

Casting Will Ferrell.

I’m sorry people, but he’s incredibly irritating – too look at and to listen to. The movie as a whole is great, but I just wish they’d cast a different Hollywood actor to play Ron Burgandy.. Zach Galifianakis for example, would be excellent.

When it comes to being a comedian, Will doesn’t quite cut it – he’s like an unattractive Seth McFarlane with half of his comedic genius removed. Honestly, if you put Will Ferrell in front of me and asked him to make me laugh, I’m 90% certain I wouldn’t even crack a smile.

Normally I find this genre of movie is a ‘boys movie’ – enjoyed by the classic twenty-something idiot, sat in front of his TV, can of beer in one hand, lad’s mag in the other – slack attitude toward life, you know. Hence why I’m surprised this little Homo embraced it heartily.

Anchorman 2 is bloody funny, bordering on hysterical – and although my opinion before I went in was rather neutral, I can honestly say upon leaving the auditorium, I felt completely laughed out and refreshed. This movie is 119 minutes of pure escapism laced with jaw-dropping laugh-out-loud comedy.

If you’re a fan of the first movie, you might just bloody love this follow-up. I would urge anyone pondering seeing this, to go and see it. Its brilliant.

8/10