Anchorman’s selling point seems to be the stupidity of lead character, Ron Burgundy. But Will Ferrell’s character must have rubbed off in a major way, affecting the total film in a very negative way. The two high points both involved cameos by Ben Stiller and Jack Black, and the most developed character was a dog that speaks bear.
The film focuses on the San Diego anchorman, Burgundy, who is the lead for Channel Four News. The plot, for lack of a better term, involves a new female newsperson, by the name of Veronica Cornerstone (Christina Applegate) who Burgundy falls in love with, but most start competing with when she becomes his co-anchor. A poorly developed sub-plot involving an evening news team (led by Vince Vaughn), provides a slightly amusing rumble scene with about 25 newsmen, two horses and a hand grenade. Burgundy’s team, Josh Fantana, Champ Kind and Brick Tamland (Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Steve Carell) provide pointless side comments and little comedic support.
That is saying a lot, considering there is very little comedy in the film. There are some snicker-spots, but the only two times I really laughed was when Jack Black (as a biker) kicked a stuffed dog off a bridge and Ben Stiller appeared as a Hispanic newscaster. The acting is sub-par from everybody, and some of the jokes are vulgarly out of place. The best aspect is the pacing. Luckily it moves relatively briskly, but when you are barely enjoying the film pacing doesn’t help a lot. Baxter, Burgundy’s dog, is probably the highlight of the movie, but that is only when he his barking at a bear.
It frustrates me because I felt the movie had so much potential. Ferrell and company had the chance to have a really smart comedy, with jabs at the media all over the place, however they produced a rough parody of stereotypical newscasters. The only witty comment is about the one of the newscaster currently working in the Bush administration. I see a lot of movies, and this the first that I almost walked out of.
The movie, as a whole, is just very poor. Nothing stands out to me as being amazingly original or hilarious, and with Dodgeball out Anchorman just doesn’t cut it. It may become a cult-classic like Dude, Where’s My Car, but my money is on it becoming a permanent dud. Don’t bother.
ONE OUT OF FOUR STARS
OVERALL SUMMARY: A waste of money. If you really want to laugh, go see Dodgeball again. It’s honestly not worth the effort in leaving your home to see this movie.
The film focuses on the San Diego anchorman, Burgundy, who is the lead for Channel Four News. The plot, for lack of a better term, involves a new female newsperson, by the name of Veronica Cornerstone (Christina Applegate) who Burgundy falls in love with, but most start competing with when she becomes his co-anchor. A poorly developed sub-plot involving an evening news team (led by Vince Vaughn), provides a slightly amusing rumble scene with about 25 newsmen, two horses and a hand grenade. Burgundy’s team, Josh Fantana, Champ Kind and Brick Tamland (Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Steve Carell) provide pointless side comments and little comedic support.
That is saying a lot, considering there is very little comedy in the film. There are some snicker-spots, but the only two times I really laughed was when Jack Black (as a biker) kicked a stuffed dog off a bridge and Ben Stiller appeared as a Hispanic newscaster. The acting is sub-par from everybody, and some of the jokes are vulgarly out of place. The best aspect is the pacing. Luckily it moves relatively briskly, but when you are barely enjoying the film pacing doesn’t help a lot. Baxter, Burgundy’s dog, is probably the highlight of the movie, but that is only when he his barking at a bear.
It frustrates me because I felt the movie had so much potential. Ferrell and company had the chance to have a really smart comedy, with jabs at the media all over the place, however they produced a rough parody of stereotypical newscasters. The only witty comment is about the one of the newscaster currently working in the Bush administration. I see a lot of movies, and this the first that I almost walked out of.
The movie, as a whole, is just very poor. Nothing stands out to me as being amazingly original or hilarious, and with Dodgeball out Anchorman just doesn’t cut it. It may become a cult-classic like Dude, Where’s My Car, but my money is on it becoming a permanent dud. Don’t bother.
ONE OUT OF FOUR STARS
OVERALL SUMMARY: A waste of money. If you really want to laugh, go see Dodgeball again. It’s honestly not worth the effort in leaving your home to see this movie.
:brick: :dazzle:
