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Anchorman: Legend of 
Ron Burgundy
(2004)

Director:
Adam McKay
COUNTRY
USA
GENRE
Comedy
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Anchorman
RUNNING TIME
94 minutes
Producer:
Judd Apatow
Screenwriter:
Will Ferrell
Adam McKay


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Ron Burgundy Will Ferrell ½
Veronica Corningstone Christina Applegate ½
Brian Fantana Paul Rudd
Brick Tamland Steve Carell
Champ Kind David Koechner
Ed Harken Fred Willard ½
Frank Vitchard Luke Wilson
Motorcyclist Jack Black
Police Officer Neil Flynn
Public TV News Anchor Tim Robbins
Arturo Mendes Ben Stiller
Man in Bar Jerry Stiller
Wes Mantooth Vince Vaughn ½

 

Review

This film has a tad of what American comedies typically have been lacking since Jim Carrey broke through in 1994 – absurdity. In Anchorman, people act and speak inconsequently, often with a delightful lack of logic. That, and a useful study of television life in the good old days, is this film's best asset. Christina Applegate plays her character identically to Kathleen Turner's Cristy Colleran in Switching Channels (a homage or spoof, you decide), and Will Ferrell isn't that far off Burt either, but in essence the substance of Anchorman is too slight. In the end, the film disappoints as a narrative as well, falling into the line of standardized, dull dramaturgy that a comedy like this never will have the dramatic depth to justify. A more stripped and free writing process could have made this very enjoyable, but at least we're provided with a fair share of laughs along the way. Steve Carell and Paul Rudd stand out. With nice cameos from Vaughn and Robbins, among others.

Copyright © 27.3.2007 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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