TV winner

Rating: 7/10 (19 December 2013)

Everywhere I turn just now, I'm confronted by an advertisement for "Anchorman 2". Never having seen the original, I took the chance to watch it on TV to try and see what the fuss was about. Well, I'm pleased to say I thoroughly enjoyed it and laughed loud and long throughout its running time.
It probably helps that I grew up watching "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", the classic early 70's sit-com set in a TV newsroom, in fact my first thought watching this was that Ted Baxter had made a comeback. Not that there's a lot of the sharp, wry humour tat characterised the "MTM" shows, the humour you get here is mostly broad and low, although its undeniably funny.
Principally the movie gets its laughs from the antiquated sexism of the 70's with San Diego's number one TV news anchorman, Ron Burgundy and his little gang of co- presenters on the show seeing their male dominance challenged by a new, pretty and ambitious female, played by Christina Applegate. Cue numerous gratuitous sexist remarks, but before long, Applegate and her new band of female co-workers have turned the tables although before the end, there's the obligatory "Let's make up and be friendly" resolution occurs in of all things a bear-pit at the zoo.
Will Ferrell is good value as the dim but perfectly coiffured Ron and Applegate, who knows a thing or two about crass humour has a ball in her part as his lady-friend / rival, but the whole supporting team have their moments. I liked best the off-the-wall inserts like the accapella version of "Afternoon Delight" and the TV news-room teams bloodbath showdown and Ron's boys trying to put Applegate off in her first solo newscast.
Throw in those pretty awful 70's fashions and some of the worst songs for the soundtrack and to a child of the times like me, this was a real hoot and maybe just maybe, I'll get along to see that sequel. I'm sure it's on somewhere!