REVIEW: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy

ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGANDY, cements Will Farrell's new position as Vice President of Comedy in America. The presidency seems to change over regularly between Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, and others, but Will Farrell seems immovable from his #2 position. His ability to create character after character who is silly, stupid, self-absorbed, and yet somehow sweet may be a sign of comic genius... or possibly a minor mental defect.



ANCHORMAN tells the story of Ron Burgandy, a fictional anchorman of the local news in San Diego, California. An amalgam of hundreds of 1970s anchormen that Farrell loved to watch over the years, Ron Burgandy is shallow, selfish, vapid, but yet loving to his little family at the tv station. And of course his "wise furry buddha" of a dog, whom he dresses in matching pajamas. Burgandy is at the top of the world, and the top of his game, as we enter the story. He is the most beloved man in San Diego, he is surrounded by a team of fiercely loyal secondary news men (including the Daily Show's Steve Carell, playing a hilarous dim-witted weatherman), and he looks to be on his way to a network news anchorship. But even though their ratings are impeccable, the orders come down from on high that it is time to diversify the all-male news team with a female - Veronica Corningstone. Ms. Corningstone is first made fun of by the new team, then dispised, and then finally accepted when Ron Burgandy is fired from the show for reading an inappropriate remark from the teleprompter. Burgandy then begins a spiral of despair that ultimately ends in his redemption, as required in all hollywood comedies.



ANOCHORMAN is a very funny comedy, and Farrell is at the top of his game in it. However, readers should be advised that the top of Farrell's game is not always the cleanest place. While generally the film is pretty innocent (during his downward spiral, Ron Burgandy turns to drinking milk, not scotch) there are several jokes which are highly suggestive and one sight-gag which is clearly wrong, in the Austin Powers method of middle school humor. But generally, the violence is cartoony, the jokes stay on the right side of PG-13, and there is a moral to the story... such as it is. Will Farrell will never be the best comedian - none of his humor is truly intelligent or insightful - but it appears he is here to stay as Mr. #2.