Retro Film Review: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

8 months ago (Edited)

(source: tmdb.org)

Hollywood comedies, like Hollywood films in general, are considered to be of lower quality compared to the past. However, some comedies that defy this trend are those set in historical settings. This is not surprising as these comedies often appeal to an older audience who can appreciate obscure pop culture references and are presumed to have more refined taste. One film that benefits from this trend is Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, a 2004 comedy directed by Adam McKay.

The story unfolds in 1970s San Diego, a time when television news was dominated by macho men, particularly those in the "action news" teams. Ron Burgundy (portrayed by Will Ferrell) leads one such group as the news anchor for local station Channel 4. The self-absorbed Burgundy and his crew revel in their fame and indulge in the hedonistic lifestyle of the 1970s. However, their world is shaken when the station introduces aspiring female reporter Veronica Cartwright (played by Christina Applegate) to bring diversity to the news team. Burgundy and his colleagues are initially resistant to the idea of a woman challenging their sexist views, yet they find themselves drawn to her.

As is common with films from Saturday Night Live veterans, "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" revolves around a single joke stretched over 90 minutes. Despite this, Ferrell and McKay, the scriptwriters, manage to overcome this limitation by introducing engaging characters, numerous pop culture references, politically incorrect humour, and a touch of surrealism at opportune moments. While Ferrell's occasional overacting may be noticeable, it is mitigated by the talented supporting cast and cameo appearances by renowned comedians. Particularly impressive is Christina Applegate, who showcases her comedic prowess and highlights how her talents were underutilised in Hollywood. Although some scenes may not resonate with everyone and criticism of 1970s macho culture may seem unnecessary to some viewers, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy demonstrates that there is a promising future for historical settings in Hollywood comedies. The film became big hit, resulting in 2004 direct-to-video pseudo-sequel Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie, made out of alternate takes and deleted scenes. In 2013 McKay was reunited with the cast for proper sequel Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, which also became a hit.

(Note: Original version of the review is available here.)