Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Unlike certain films that already have options for sequels built in, it’s safe to say that back when Will Ferrell first donned Ron Burgundy’s moustache back in 2004 not many were thinking of future instalments. Back then Ferrell wasn’t a big name, the title was somewhat clunky and Adam McKay had never directed a feature film. Popular myth is that the film was a box office failure and made its money back via DVD sales. In fact the film had a decent return at the box office, but it really only exploded into the cultural phenomenon it became (well, at least amongst men aged 20 to 40) once word of mouth spread following home viewings. For the sequel all things remain the same. The original cast are back, McKay directs, Judd Apatow produces and McKay and Ferrell script. Another thing that remains the same: it’s very funny. Not on a par with the first film (there are few quotes that will pass into the zeitgeist), but there’s enough laughs here to prove that this wasn’t a wasted effort. The plot is fairly basic (Burgundy finding himself back in San Diego and helping front the first 24-hour TV new channel), thought it's basically a MacGuffin around which to hang scene after scene of silliness. It's all fairly chaotic and unstructured, but the wide range of jokes guarantee at least a couple of laughs no matter what your comedic tastes. The spoofing of how we ingest the news in contemporary society is smart and the reaction to the chaps getting a female black boss comments on the changing attitudes of the mid-80's (and, of course, is the set up for some guilty laughs). There are quite a few negatives mind. McKay’s direction is rusty (he hasn’t done anything since 2010’s so-so The Other Guys), some of the cameo’s are as bad (Hello, Kanye West) as they are good and promising story lines (James Marsden in nice sneering form as a rival reporter) are quickly abandoned. The biggest mistake comes in boosting the presence of Steve Carell’s dim-witted Brick Tamland. The delight of his character from the first film was his occasional surreal remarks, but here that has been diluted and a subplot involving a love interest in the form of Kristen Wiig is painfully unfunny. Plus a section of the film that attempts to get laughs from Burgundy going blind is in pretty poor taste. All in all, as a follow up this is a good effort and it has many laugh out loud moments, but I just can’t see it demanding repeat viewings. Rating: 7/10.