Anchorman (2004)

==SYNOPSIS== 

Anchorman is a comedy that centres on an evening news team during the 1970’s.  The KVWN-TV Channel 4 news crew are the top rated news team thanks to their lead anchor Ron Burgundy.   However, the team are distressed when the network decides to employ female anchor, Veronica Corningstone.  Hilarity ensures, supposedly.

==PROS==

Bizarre Humour – Whether it’s in the form of non-sequiturs from Ron and the supporting characters, or full blown scenes of ridiculousness (e.g news caster gang fights) the humour is so over the top it will take you by surprise.  There are some truly laugh-out-loud scenes, and some brilliant dialogue from Ron Burgundy and dim-witted weatherman Brick Tamland.  That said; the laugh-out-loud bizarre humour is far too infrequent.  

Interesting – whether you like the humour or not, this film is never boring.  There are only a few ‘normal’ characters in this the film, the rest of the cast are so quirky that every line of their dialogue is, or attempts to be, funny.  The film also revels in the very essence of its cheesy 70’s setting, so when people aren’t talking, the costume design and sets are visually interesting.

Cast – Almost every character is over-the-top, but in an entertaining way, and a good majority of the cast are played by professional comic actors.  Will Farrell nails the role of chauvinistic but loveable Ron Burgandy, and Steve Carrel plays the continuously hilarious Brick Tamland.  Vince Vaugn plays rival newscaster Wes Mantooth, and there are cameo’s from Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Seth Rogan and a host of others.

==CON==

The Rest of the Humour – There is only one major con in this film, but it is a significant one.  This is a comedy that for the most part isn’t funny.  Since this film is about a woman trying to prove her newscasting ability during the 70’s, there are a lot of sexist jokes and gags made by the male news team.  I’m not complaining because they were offensive (it’s impossible to be offended by a film this ridiculous) they were just BORING.  At first it’s funny watching the male worker’s misconception of having a female co-worker (e.g. their menstrual blood attracts bears apparently), but then the gags quickly become bland and unfunny.

On top of that, Ron Burgundy’s humour is a bit hit-and-miss.  At the start of the film he is at his most amusing, but as the film progresses a lot of his humour becomes more bitter and unfunny.  Ron is also the most extravagant, so his over-the-top antics may be off-putting to some viewers.

==IN A NUTSHELL==

While not consistently funny, Anchorman is occasionally brilliant, often silly and never boring.