Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

I still remember the feeling; that aura of anticipation that i felt when the announcement was made. Anchorman 2 was in production. Finally, big Ron was on his way back!!! The magical news team where going to be gracing the big screen and i couldn't have been any more excited.

The first film was very close to comedic perfection; it had everything that was needed and much like any film that you thoroughly enjoy you want to see more, but in the back of your mind you don't want the film to become tainted.

And although this film has its droves of fans, for me it was incredibly disappointing. They took it too far. The stupidity in the first film was perfectly balanced. It was funny. This however was over the top. There are certain scenes that are very uncomfortable to watch as they try so hard to make you laugh. And as the ridiculousness accelerated, my gut began to churn and any smile that wanted to force it's way out to stay loyal to the first film was obliterated and all that was left was me,- insert summary here -.

Disappointment is too feeble of an explanation to how gutted i was at the way this film played out. So much of the first film was regurgitated. First couple of carbon copy moments i tried to ignore and enjoy but it eventually became so obvious and so desperate. The continual "by the beard of...", like quotations from Ron was tedious. And the shark....well i'll let you see that farcical moment for yourselves.

I tried, i really tried to enjoy this film, and yes, it had it's fair share of moments that made me laugh, but it is nothing more than a moneymaker. And it will do its job. But that doesn't stop it from being a massive let down. Sequels tend to work when they are planned, not when they are demanded.

That was the first thing I said as I left the cinema. Was that the best they could come up with after all these years? I'm a huge Anchorman fan, but whereas the first one felt fresh and to the point, this one is flabby and overlong. It's not terrible and it did make me laugh a few times, but I expected so much more. The 24 hour news channel is a good hook on which to hang the gags and setpieces but unfortunately Ferrell and McKay don't seem to know what to do with it, so they settle for recycling material from the original. By way of example, the mahoosive news reader fight scene from Anchorman is repeated here; the first time around it was funny and surprising, this time it's lazy and stuffed full of tedious cameos by Will Ferrell's showbiz mates. So much wrong with this film: sidelining Veronica Corningstone; not enough Baxter; a subplot in which Brick gets a girlfriend, no laughs there, it's just odd and creepy; pointless roles for Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear; a recurring thread of racial humour that is cringeworthy at best and at worst offensive. All of which leaves you asking: why, Ron Burgundy, why?!?

I was so disappointed after the 1st viewing and didn't watch it again until today, its actually pretty good, the Harrison Ford scene alone was brilliant, the film just suffered massively from the sheer brilliance of the 1st film, the anticipation was too high but now it has all calmed down watch it again.

I was a big fan of Anchorman for so long. Will Ferrell's performance is as the type of hero that is so unlikable to the point of ironically being likable and amusing. The jokes were vulgar yet great, it had a charmed that I remember, and the conflict of these characters really made it entertaining to watch. So when I heard all the hype about the sequel, I got eager. The trailers were well done and I had fairly high expectations.

Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed (for the most part) and at the same time, it was a great experience in the theater. The effort went all the way to deserve being a great sequel. As far as plot, the original one is better. However, the humor was slightly funnier than the first. I'll be honest I didn't enjoy the performance of the woman who played Linda, the actress for the part didn't feel right and her involvement in the story made me enjoy this movie less than its predecessor. I laughed a lot, especially at the recurring jokes, such as Brick going from grenade to futuristic gun, Brian going from perfume to condoms, or Champ frequently saying "Whammy!" as a catchphrase. I won't spoil anything, but get ready for the traditional random splooge of cameos during the fight, like the first one. It was so satisfying to see all these famous people show up unexpectedly, including Kanye, Drake, John C. Reilley, and Tina Fey to name a few.

Bottom line, although it might not be as good as the first one or even have the same charm, but it was a hilarious movie. It was brilliantly stupid, so don't go into the film expecting it to be an intelligent comedy. The only way to know whether you like it or is to see it. If you're a fan, it's a must-see. Otherwise, enjoy this movie, even if you hate it after wards!

And the "super sized" version of this movie is hilarious... The first two versions are not funny...that i can remember.. But on the Blu Ray that had the super sized version it's a good get... After some alcohol... Like a bottle of good wine. Try Apothic Red. A nice blend.. the 'Inferno' style is their best...but I digest.... It makes this movie totally enjoyable. Paul Rudd is my man crush. (Did i say that out loud?) Long live Ron Burgundy!..?