Wake Up, Ron Burgundy

Instead of just including the deleted/alternate scenes of "Anchorman", the producers edited them together into a brand new movie. Even though there is new narration explaining how it is a sequel, it is very clear to anyone watching that many of the scenes are alternate versions of scenes in the original film. The main plot (which is most likely a discarded subplot from the original) involves a pacifist gang called the alarm clock, whose members include Maya Rudolph (SNL), and Amy Poehler (Upright Citizens Brigade, SNL) is also in the film. This movie is not as funny as the original, and moves a bit slower, but all together it is worth seeing if you liked the original.

Wow, I didn't even know that "Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie" existed before now in 2021 as I happened to stumble upon it by sheer random chance. And of course I had to sit down and watch what writers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay did with this 2004 comedy.

It was actually rather interesting and fun, not to mention a bit impressive, that they could muster to put a movie together out of the dropped subplots and alternate takes from the 2004 movie. So that was actually some achievement. But it is also why you will not sit with a feel of there being a properly coherent - or well thought through - plot line or red thread here, as it was bit and pieces thrown together.

But it actually worked well enough, and it was fun to revisit the news team once again.

"Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie" is something you should watch if you properly enjoyed the movies.

My rating of "Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie" lands on a five out of ten stars.

Wake up, Ron Burgundy is allegedly made of deleted scenes from Anchorman, but while it's obvious how some scenes fit into the movie such as Ron's dangerous driving here leading to the parking scene in Anchorman, there's no way most of this would have ever fit. I assume a lot of last-minute re-shoots were involved.

Some elements work. The Alarm Clock gang is hilarious. They are a group with political goals, but seem unclear on what they are and lack any sort of grand plan. The bit with Amy Poehler as a bank teller who refuses to give them any money because they are so inept as bank robbers is one of the best in the movie. Justin Long as Ed's sullen teenage son, Chris, and Chad Everett as Jess Moondragon, Ron's mentor who won't shut up about how inappropriately he loves nature, also have some very memorable bits. Note that none of these (fairly significant) characters are in Anchorman.

Unfortunately, the movie is just a series of bits. It doesn't really come together. To some degree, this is to be expected in a movie assembled from deleted scenes, but it's more than that. The jokes get too much narrative priority, often leading to things that just don't fit in the context of the movie. Veronica Corningstone's personality is all over the place and Champ King's moment in the car goes on way too long, even though it starts well, for instance. This really hurts suspension of disbelief as it never really establishes any rules to play by.

This is a serious problem, but I'm giving the movie a 6 anyway, mainly because it made me laugh so hard I nearly vomited on several occasions, like when Brick explained what he was eating or any of Paul's attempts to explain the manifesto. In short, this is a great way to present deleted scenes. It isn't a great movie.

This film is definitely worth checking out if you were a fan of the theatrical film "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy." This feature seems to be made of cut footage from the first movie, including a complete alternate ending for the original film. In many ways, this second ending makes more sense from a writing standpoint, as many things that are introduced early on in the script (that are funny on their own, don't get me wrong) come back in the dramatic conclusion.

The only flaw in this feature is that it tries to pass itself off a sequel, instead of cut footage, and it doesn't quite work. Then again, if you can suspend your disbelief -- that concept becomes pretty funny, as well.

Chock full of great material from Will Ferrell, this film also gives some more screen time for Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and David Koechner. Justin Long (Dodgeball) even makes an appearance.

Great stuff... although it starts to raise the question - how much money did they spend on this movie? Enjoy folks!

Goulet.

fans of Ron, brace yourselves, because he's back. While the movie lacks direction (since it was put together on such short notice) the channel4 news crew is as funny as ever, and we can ask ourselves why some of these outtakes didn't make the first cut. For example the scene where the crew is stuck on the mountain and almost resorts to cannibalism is hilarious, and Brick remains the same street smart guy in a world he never made. Although we miss guest star appearances from "frat pack" members, Ron Burgundy is as proud, macho and funny as ever. At some points though, the cuts seem really fake: they show scenes from the first movie with added narration to cover the new subplot, which, by the way is awesome because it gives up the "rip the lid" sequence, which is probably the funniest in the movie.

This film is a must see for anyone who wet his pants watching "Anchorman".