A funny, daft comedy, Anchorman stars Will Ferrell as moustachioed 70s chauvinist Ron Burgundy, a TV news presenter perturbed by new chick on the block Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate). While romantically drawn to his rival, he can't deal with the idea of a female 'anchor'. But his efforts to undermine her only fuel his own downfall. The results - broad laughs over sexism, feminism, and bad suits - are usually rib-tickling rather than side-splitting, but this is ideal Friday night fodder if you're in the right mood.
"Great Odin's raven!" is just one of the odd exclamations from Ferrell, who co-wrote the script with director Adam McKay and - from the look of the end credit's outtakes - improvised quite a bit on the spot. How funny you find this may depend on how much you've had to drink (Anchorman will certainly be a beer and pizza favourite at home), and it does require some effort to tune into the offbeat sense of humour. But like the similarly hit and miss Zoolander (whose star, Ben Stiller, has an uncredited cameo), Anchorman has "cult favourite" written all over it.
"EVERYONE IS HAVING A GREAT TIME"
Supporting Ferrell, The Shape Of Things' Paul Rudd has a lot of fun as another crass newscaster, and Steve Carell somehow manages to keep a straight face as Brick Tamland (the names are all great), a dunderheaded weatherman who, the closing voiceover tells us, goes on to work for the Bush administration. There's also a sense that everyone in Anchorman is having a great time. Stiller's cameo is complemented by Luke Wilson and Jack Black (who raises the biggest laugh), and while the humour is occasionally crude, it's refreshingly free of "gross-out" gags. As Ron says, "You stay classy San Diego".
Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (2004)
