In what can only be described as ridiculous entertainment, ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES, reunites us with the news team helmed by the man who was born to have salon quality hair and to read the news, Ron Burgundy. If you enjoyed the first installment, ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY, you are primed for some laugh out loud moments with this comical sequel.
Ron and wife Veronica Corningstone, are in the Big Apple reading the news when Veronica’s promotion and Ron’s termination split the two a part. Returning to San Diego (pronounced SAHAN Di-AHG-OH) sans Veronica, Ron hits rock bottom before landing the chance to be on the first ever 24-hour news station. Bringing his crew of Brick Tamland (Steve Carell), Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), and Champ Kind (David Koechner) with him back to New York City, the team’s outrageous ideas are ratings gold, promoting them from the graveyard shift to primetime. What will happen to the group when Ron’s ego gets the best of him?
ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES starts strong with outlandish one-liners and shockingly hilarious dialogue. With the combination of early eighties attire, slang and pop culture it is a joy to see all of the throw back references that rightfully earn laughs. As the movie progresses, things become more ridiculous and the laughs are there, but they do not feel as genuine as the first part of the film. Throughout the picture there are recycled jokes stemming from the first film, yet the brilliant writing duo of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay know the right way to nod at the previous flick while making laughs feel fresh. Joining the established ensemble are a handful of new faces that add to the hilarity, from the news team’s new boss, Linda Jackson (Megan Good), Veronica’s pony-tailed lover, Gary (Greg Kinnear) to Brick’s love interest Chani (Kristen Wiig). Plus, with a multitude of cameos a repeated viewing will be required in order to catch them all.
Reprising his role as Ron, Will Ferrell is clearly in his element. He has perfected this character and exposes more of Ron’s flaws throughout the film that generate some of the biggest laughs. Ferrell’s ability to ease into Ron’s socially inappropriate behavior is priceless. Carell, Rudd and Koechner all hold their own, each stimulating our funny bone with moments like Brick’s office romance, Fantana’s photo shoots and Champ’s restaurant where ‘chicken of the cave’ is served without ‘batting’ an eye.
Despite the handful of flaws found in this film, those of you who have enjoyed Ferrell and McKay’s previous comedies, I can say without hesitation, you will find joy in this picture. Seeing ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES on the big screen is not necessary; especially if you want to catch all of the laughs. But, as ridiculous entertainment goes, it is a fun time. If ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES is as successful as imagined, one can only picture what the filmmakers will come up with next for Ron Burgundy and his news team.
