Are you serious?

Rating: 1/10 (11 January 2009)

I've heard a lot about "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy." After all, it made Will Ferrell famous to movie audiences. I've heard it been called everything from just hilarious to being one of the defining comedies of our time. Surprised was I to find out that "Anchorman" is not only overrated, it's downright unwatchable.
Ron Burgandy (Will Ferrell) is Ron Burgandy, San Diego's most famous news reporter with an ego to match. Everything seems to be perfect for Ron, until a new reporter, a beautiful female(!) named Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) threatens his seat of power.
I've seen a few of Will Ferrell's movies, and I have to admit that I am not a fan. He can be funny, like in "Elf" or "Old School." But here he's so obnoxious that it's torture to watch him "be funny." All he does is yell and scream a lot and act like a guy with a big ego. It isn't funny.
Everyone here is extremely stupid. That's not inherently a bad thing; being dumb can be funny. Take a look at "Borat;" they don't get any dumber than that guy. But what makes "Borat" funny and "Anchroman" a trial is how it plays dumb. "Borat" intelligently rips apart the dumbest parts of American culture. "Anchorman" plays dumb by acting like middle schoolers. What I mean is that "Anchorman" thinks its being funny by being crude. Crude does not necessarily equal funny. It has to be clever, which "Anchorman" is definitely not.
My God, this is an awful movie. I don't think I've ever had a worse time watching a movie, and that includes "The Royal Tenenbaums." That is a record that I hope I never break.