This film was meant to be a comedy?

Rating: 1/10 (16 September 2004)

Having an evening free I went to see "Anchorman" at our local cinema, the choice being based largely on the description and comments left here at the IMDb. Having thoroughly enjoyed "Bruce Almighty" I was reassured by the recommendation that "If I enjoyed [Anchorman] I would also enjoy Bruce Almighty" and other people's comments about this film being extremely funny.
I'm sorry to say that I found the entire film extremely UNfunny. I think during its entire length it managed to get around three smiles out of me: and they were weak ones. :-(
A small part of the problem might be the several references to people who I assume are US celebrities (but whom I have never heard of here in the UK) and the use of US slang. Without understanding these a number of the 'jokes' very definitely went over my head.
But overall the film just wasn't funny. I also got the distinct impression that it didn't know where it was going: the plot, such as it was, was vague and unclear. It also seemed to keep changing its direction as time passed (I won't say as the film 'progressed': it didn't).
I was uncomfortable with the language and situations used at times, which could have been forgiven if humour had genuinely been present. It wasn't. I'm rather surprised it was rated "12A" here in the UK (suitable for children of 12 years and over, and under 12's with an adult).
The film was ALMOST but not QUITE bad enough for me to walk out on: after all I had bought my ticket and wanted an evening out. However I left at the end deeply unsatisfied and feeling that both the money and time could have been much better spent. (For example by buying a tin of paint to put on a wall, then sit and watch it dry.)