Movie Review: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

After nine years, well-loved pop icon Ron Burgundy of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is back on the big screen for its second instalment.

By Lilian Lee

PHOTO: anchormanmovie.com

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Comedy [NC16]
Steve Carell, Christina Applegate, Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd
113 min

After nine years, well-loved pop icon Ron Burgundy of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is back on the big screen. Unfortunately, this second instalment, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, falls flat with its predictable storyline.

The movie picks up where the first instalment left off: Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) and his wife, Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), are a news tag team at the prestigious World News Center in New York City. All is well until Ron is fired for his terrible work ethics while Veronica gets promoted, making her the first female news anchor for the night segment.

Unsurprisingly, this arrangement does not go well with the chauvinistic Ron, who gives his wife an ultimatum: reject the promotion or he leaves her. He eventually storms out of the marriage, leaving her and their six-year-old son.

Ron then seeks a living at a theme park, Sea World, only to end up getting fired again. But as chance would have it, he is offered a job by Global News Network (GNN), the world’s first round-the-clock news network.

He rounds up his motley news crew — sportscaster Champ Kind (David Koechner), field reporter Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) and weatherman Brick Tamland (Steve Carell). Hilarity ensues as they redefine American news by broadcasting frivolous news on TV — cutesy animal videos, salacious sex scandals and live high-speed car chases — giving Americans what they “want to hear” rather than what they “need to hear”.

Thickheaded Brick gets even sillier in the second instalment, as the audience sees him making desperately awkward conversation with love interest Chani (Kristen Wiig), a secretary at GNN who is just as simple-minded as he is. Despite their eccentric behavior, the pair still captures hearts with their chemistry.

Although the epic battle with teams from other news networks such as Entertainment Tonight and ESPN is a rehash from the first movie, it wins the best scene hands down. Star-studded cameo appearances, including Kanye West as MTV News correspondent and Sacha Baron Cohen as BBC News reporter, add bonus points in the unforgettable scene.

Fans of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy may be disappointed as this instalment brings nothing new to the table. Director Adam McKay, banking on the formula that made the first movie a success, rehashes the same plot — protagonist Ron falls from the top due to excessive pride. A cliche soon follows, with him picking himself up, succeeding in his career and reuniting with his bodacious wife Veronica.

Obnoxious racist and sexist jokes, as well as over-the-top antics in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues may cause the prudish to squirm in their seats, but provides plenty of entertainment for the easily amused. It may not have lived up to its immense hype, but its commentary on America’s obsession with frivolous news packs a heavy punch.