"Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" Review

Will Ferrell is many things, but above else he is a mogul. When he does something, you can guarantee he will go out of his way to make sure you know about it. More than any of his past endeavors, he clearly has the most amount of love for Ron Burgundy. So much love that he will bring the character off the screen and never drop out of it once he starts. Whether hosting Sportscenter, being interviewed by Conan O'Brien, or even invading an actual newscast, you clearly saw more of Ron Burgundy than Will Ferrell this month. And that is a testament to his passion, but is it justified?

Starting a number of years after the events of the original film, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues finds Ron Burgundy a broken man. He is separated from Veronica Corningstone, no longer hosting the news, and drunkenly welcoming guests to dolphin shows at Sea World. That all changes when he is given the opportunity to be a part of the first 24 hour news channel. To do so, he reassembles his legendary news team of Champ Kind, Brian Fantana, and Brick Tamland. 

Like most sequels, this movie could have gone any number of ways. Luckily, the film retains the wacky, period style of the original film. The jokes come after another, and for the most part, they all land. It's a two hour laugh riot with no dips. What I found most surprising is how smart so many of the gags were. This time around, they took advantage of the period setting, and came up with some admittedly hilarious jokes about the time period, and pre-contemporary gags that work if you understand the reference.  

Make no mistake, this is a comedy. Don't go into it expecting any extreme level of depth. I will say this, towards the end it starts to spiral out of control, but just go with it. It may seem a little too wacky, but I found myself laughing all the same. Take the film for what it is, and you'll enjoy it much more. It's an acquired taste, but if it's your dish, it's delicious. 

Will Ferrell returns to the role of Ron Burgundy and brings the same dry wit and same casual delivery that forged one of his most memorable roles. Will Ferrell's brand of humor is not for everyone, but for those who find him entertaining (myself included), you will be satisfied.

Paul Rudd returns as Brian Fantana, and he is given much more to do. He is still the suave, classy handsome ladies man that he was the first go-around and Rudd plays to his strong points. 

David Koechner also return as Champ King, but unfortunately is rather sidelined. Koechner is most well known for playing crass, perverted comic foils, but the first Anchorman gave him a chance to be something beyond that. This time, he doesn't get much time to shine. 

Now we come to Steve Carell. I like Steve Carell, but like Koechner, he has the ability to do so much more than what he is given. Mind you, there is nothing wrong with his acting, and he does have some of the biggest laughs in the movie, but it really feels as though they choose not to build much off the talent Carell has developed over the past nine years since the original. He does however have great chemistry when paired with Kristen Wiig, and they play off of each other remarkably. 

As with the first film, there are a calvacade of celebrities that show up in cameo appearances, but I shall not spoil the surprise here. I will give you a hint though. An actor I have frequently mentioned as one of my favorites does some rather memorable scene-stealing. Keep your eyes open throughout the film!

All in all, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is a hilarious comedy that will not disappoint fans of the original. It may get a little out of hand in some spots, but it never loses it's spark. 

B