This Just In - Will Ferrell is hysterical

Rating: 10/10 (15 July 2004)

ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY (2004) **** Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Fred Willard, Chris Parnell, Fred Armisen, Seth Rogen, Danny Trejo (Cameos: Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Tim Robbins) Ferrell plumbs new depths in braggadocio inanity as the titular '70s San Diego news reader whose vainglorious, male chauvinistic journalistic ways are about to come to a nasty head when sexy FEMALE anchor wanna be Veronica Corningstone (a game Applegate) is hired placing him and his news team – ladies'man roving reporter Brian Fantana (Rudd channeling Kurt Russell); mentally challenged weatherman Brick (as in thick as a) Tamland (Carell, stealing the entire film); and good ol' boy sports reporter Champ Kind (wily Koechner) – in a battle of the sexes with truly hilarious results. The absurdity reaches new highs (or lows; depends on how you look at it) with the God-UGLY clothing and hirsute stylings of the ME decade in all its tacky splendor and inspired cameos of some of film's funniest comedians but it clearly shows Ferrell – who co-wrote with director Adam McKay - at the top of his game in making dumb guys an art form with his ridiculous self-important cluelessness and aggressively idiotic displays of ardor and emotion (one of the best lines: "I'm in a glass case of emotion!") Howlingly funny – sort of the 'Boogie Nights' of local news meets 'Austin Powers'. Only gripe is that the film was toned down from a possible nastier R-rated version that was cut down from nearly two additional hours of footage; bring on the DVD pronto!!