3 stars out of 5
So I arrive at the theater, look up at the showtimes, and there’s something called “Anchorman 2” playing. Gee, I wish the filmmakers had made some sort of effort to get word out about this little flick. Maybe somehow try to get the main character in front of the public, so we would know that the movie was coming out.
OK, that was some of Salt in Wound’s trademark sarcasm. Because I actually think that Anchorman 2‘s all-media carpet-bombing promotional assault may have actually backfired.
You see, I liked Anchorman, and I was excited that they were making a sequel. It would be fun to see the characters again, and spend some more time with them. But by the time this movie finally came out, I’d felt like I had been trapped in an elevator with these characters for the past few months. So removing my pre-release enthusiasm from the equation, now the movie had to impress me solely with its story and humor. And, well, it kind of did, and kind of didn’t.
Ron Burgundy remains a money-in-the-bank comic creation, good for lots of laughs. Will Ferrell clearly loves playing this buffoon with a good heart, with his random outbursts, surreal non-sequiturs, and supreme self-confidence blended with over-the-top childishness.
However, the supporting cast—including Burgundy’s loyal crew Paul Rudd, Steve Carrell, and David Koechner—don’t bring a whole lot to the table this time around. There seems to be much ad-libbing taking place, which isn’t always the best course of action. Many of the jokes simply fall flat. Kristen Wiig is around and fairly amusing but doesn’t get much to do; it’s as if she’s testing out a second-tier SNL character. And the film’s funniest segment is basically a rehash of a scene from the original Anchorman.
I will give the movie credit for having a “message”—an indictment of the fluff that now passes for news. But I also have to subtract a few points for a too-long “look how dumb Ron Burgundy is, he is saying racist things” segment.
There are some out-of-left-field bizarro moments that I really enjoyed, and I certainly laughed out loud from time to time. I just wish that instead of devoting so much effort to promoting the film, Ferrell and partner Adam McKay had worked just a little harder on polishing the script.
I’m sure later this afternoon I’ll start seeing some clever nontraditional marketing for Anchorman 3.
Thanks for the review, Jack! I think anything that is hyped as much (“all-media carpet-bombing promotional assault”–hah!) as Anchorman 2 creates too many expectations. I felt that way about the Austin Powers sequels. I LOVED the original Austin Powers movie (I had an Austin Powers bobblehead). But the sequels regurgitated the same stuff that made the original so great, and it felt like they were just milking the original for all they can get at the box office.
Well put Jane. I felt the same way in the 3rd grade when The Empire Strikes Back sequel was getting hyped.