"Don't act like you're not impressed."
I love, love, love this movie. This is Will Ferrell's baby, his pet project. It is said to reflect his sense of humor. In that case, he and I are on the same wavelength. I like goofy movies like this and Zoolander that you aren't supposed to take seriously.
Now let me preface this...this is no Godfather II, no Rashomon, no Kane. What it is however, is 90 minutes of pure entertainment. I can't think of a more quotable movie in the past few years, including Napoleon Dynamite. Anchorman is chock full of great lines. It's science.
While in undergrad at NAU I got a dual major, and one was broadcast journalism. Worked on the university news show for 3 years, and interned at the NBC affiliate in Flag. Hated broadcasting, and am glad I never went down that path. However that background gives me a great angle to look at Anchorman on. Will Ferrell nails Ron Burgandy to the wall. He is a great "anchorman". "That squirrell can waterski." I quote this movie all the time, in every situation because it applies to so much, but especially quote it during one of my favorite pastimes...making fun of TV Newscasts.
Give this one a shot, especially if you liked Zoolander or the like. The adventures of Ron, Brick, Champ, Veronica and Brian are unparalleled in human history; by Zeus' beard, in the history of the universe!
If you don't like it, well, when in Rome.
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Plot for Anchorman:
Ron Burgundy (Ferrell) is the top-rated anchorman in San Diego in the '70s. When feminism marches into the newsroom in the form of ambitious newswoman Veronica Corningstone (Applegate), Ron is willing to play along at first-as long as Veronica stays in her place, covering cat fashion shows, cooking, and other "female" interests. But when Veronica refuses to settle for being eye candy and steps behind the news desk, it's more than a battle between two perfectly coiffed anchor-persons... it's war.
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Cast:
Will Ferrell .... Ron Burgundy
Christina Applegate .... Veronica Corningstone
Paul Rudd .... Brian Fantana
Steve Carell .... Brick Tamland
David Koechner .... Champ Kind
Fred Willard .... Ed Harken
Chris Parnell .... Garth Holliday
Kathryn Hahn .... Helen
Fred Armisen .... Tino
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Trivia:
Was inspired by a biography show that Will Ferrell watched about Jessica Savitch, and how one of her male coworkers confessed to being a total chauvinist back in the day.
Many of the actors as well as Will Ferrell are well versed in the art of improvisation and would sometimes do up to 20 different versions of reaction lines trying out the first thing that popped into their heads.
This film had been pitched to DreamWorks nearly 20 times before, following the successes of "Old School" and "Elf". DreamWorks had little faith in the film, doubting Ferrell and McKay were able to pull off an entire film based on news anchors. Despite the doubts the film would bomb, it grossed $84 million domestically.
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The opening title card says it all for this movie, BTW:
"The following is based on actual events. Only the names, locations and events have been changed."
Enjoy, I'll be back tomorrow with something else.
Linear Mode
