Anchorman

Review by Sean Lynch

Very few comedies these days can be put in a class anything above "average at best".

It's become the trend since the release of American Pie that for some reason comedy movies must include a geeky kid, a school, some boobs and perhaps a moral at the end. And the best part of Will Ferrell's box office hit? It doesn't involve any of that!

Stupid, no-brainer, goofball humour with zero-depth at it's best. This is Will Ferrell's Schindlers List, Will Ferrell's One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Will Ferrell's Anchorman. After a series of scene stealing cameo's in some relatively poor films over the last few years (with the exception of perhaps Austin Powers and The Ladies Man), Ferrell finally graduates to the leading man status in style, bringing to life 1970's San Diego news Anchor Ron Burgundy.

This is Pre-Ray Martin or Sandra Sully, a dark age when men reported the news almost exclusively. A time before cable. When the local anchorman reigned supreme. When people believed everything they heard on TV.  And in San Diego, one anchorman was more man then the rest. His name was Ron Burgundy. 

Burgundy, is shallow and self-absorbed without redemption, chases skirts and is so genuinely stupid he reads literally ANYTHING on the teleprompter. His news crew consists of adulterous sports reporters (former SNL player David Koechner), chovanists (a surprisingly humerous Paul Rudd) and one misfit weatherman, Brick Tamland, played with unremitting mental blankness by 40 Year Old Virgin's Steve Carrell who's random thoughts are priceless, at one point proclaiming "I ate a big red candle". Burgundy's dog Baxter is a delight also, a pooch who can bark in a few languages and can "really cut to the core" of Ron when things get emotional.

As the story goes, the "Men's Club" is jolted by the station honcho's decision to add a woman to the newsroom, largely to appease the network big wigs. He says it's necessary in the interests of "diversity," a word which Ron explains to his knowledge is "...An old Wooden ship sailed by the Spanish". Enter pretty but tough Veronica Corningstone, Christina Applegate, whose film credits to date (Don't Tell Mum The Babysitters Dead and The Sweetest Thing) have never quite lived up to her Married With Children success. However, Applegate makes what really is a tough comedic role work completely.

When Ron has a run in with a biker (Jack Black) who in a fit of rage kicks Baxter from a bridge, Veronica gets her pinch-hitting chance to anchor the evening news. And Veronica scores big time. The rest of the film is Ron's Revenge and Veronica's Counterattack with gag after gag being pummeled at the audience like an opponent of Mike Tyson.

A subplot involving the rivalry between Ron's Channel 4 crew and competing stations is yet another hilarious addition to the already gut busting film. This ends in a West Side Story-esque battle having no rhyme or reason, and features an abundance of guest cameos from the likes of Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson to name a few. These guys are this generations version of the 1980's SNL crew (Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Martin Short and John Belushi)  who always seemed to pop up in each other movies. This reemergence of a "comedy posse" is something special to witness.

Everyone will have their own favourite moment, lines will be quoted amongst friends for years to come, in what should be considered a classic comedy not only of the 2000's, but of all time. As the baritone voiced narrator states at the beginning of the film "He had a voice that could make a wolverine purr and suits so fine they made Sinatra look like a hobo. In other words, Ron Burgundy was the balls".

EXTRAS

The Australian edition has a giant load of features packed in. Included is one of the most amusing audio commentaries ever put to dvd with Will Ferrell and writer/Director Adam McKay. Worth listening to on it's own accord, it too is packed with guest cameo's and it's own storyline.

There are the usual bloopers and 21 deleted scenes - which you will be hard pressed to understand why they were cut in the first place! Plus a fantastic video clip for the 70's hit "Afternoon Delight", which is yet another highlight from the feature.

And for those lucky kids in America, the extras here are astounding, and a true testament to the hilarity of the film. When a second film (running almost as long as the feature) can be created solely from deleted scenes - and still be just as funny - you know your onto a good thing. The special additional disc Wake Up, Ron Burgundy includes the extra film, even more deleted scenes, another hilarious commentary, cast member auditions, rehearsals and so much more I can't even say because I'm tempting myself to watch it again.

Keep an eye out for a scene when the Channel 4 news crew are awkwardly packed into a car, when from nowhere, Champ Kind confesses his love for Ron. Gut-Bustingly Funny!

Conclusion: Movie 98% Extras: 90%