As per Simon's request, here's my review of Anchorman. It may contain some minor storyline spoilers (who cares about the plot anyway? it's a slapstick comedy)
The basic premise of the plot is simple. Will Ferrell plays Ron Burgundy, a pompous, less-than-intelligent news anchor in San Diego, who happens to be a stud with the ladies. He leads a news team that includes an obnoxious cowboy named Champ who does sports, a fast-living on-the-scene reporter named Brian Fantana, and a mildly retarded weatherman named Brick (played hilariously by the Daily Show's Steve Carrell).
Responding to criticism that the station has no diversity, the chief hires Veronica (played by Christina Applegate), which appalls the chavanistic news team. The team refuses to accept Veronica as a peer, and sees her as merely a sex object. While Veronica stonewalls the news team's sexual advances at first, she falls victim to Burgundy's charm. Ron and Veronica start dating and eventually break up, leading to tension in the news room, which escalates and escalates. Hilarity then ensues.
This movie starts out slowly (VERY slowly...not many laughs in the opening 10-20 minutes) but then picks up steam as it goes along. Brick, the retarded weatherman, is far and away the funniest part of the movie, as the other two news team members (besides Will Ferrell) are kinda just there. Will Ferrell doesnt exactly bring his A game either, as he was much funnier in Old School and Elf. He still is very funny though, just not up to his potential.
There are a bunch of funny cameos, including Jack Black, Danny Trejo (the big scary Mexican from Desperado and From Dusk Till Dawn) and SNL's Fred Armisen (basically playing one of his recurring characters...or I guess his only recurring character). There's also a bunch of cameos that would ruin the joke if I mentioned who they were.
All in all, it was a pleasant movie experience. Enough genuienly funny jokes to keep your attention straight through, but nothing that will make you fall out of your chair. I give it 3.5 stars out of 5
07-16-2004, 01:59 PM
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