one of Ferrell's funniest

Rating: 8/10 (8 December 2007)

Will Ferrell has played a number of different personality types during his amazingly busy career on television and in films, but the kind of character on display in 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy' is the one that most people associate with him and the one that seems to suit him best. The character is usually a celebrity of sorts, vain, boastful, utterly convinced of his sexual prowess, and not very intelligent. The old saying, "a mile wide and an inch deep" would apply. In 'Anchorman,' all of these characteristics are brought forth and the film is almost a perfect vehicle for Ferrell and his wildly inventive comedic style. Since so many news anchors, particularly local ones, are suspected of being very similar to Ron Burgundy, it's not a stretch to accept such an absurd characterization. What seems to have gone unnoticed by many people, including the critics, is how similar the Ron Burgundy persona is to Chevy Chase's, back in his TV and film heyday. To say Ferrell is channeling Chase would almost be an understatement; the two are practically identical at times, with very similar delivery, choice of material and dialogue, and senses of the absurd. One can easily picture 'Anchorman' being made thirty years earlier with Chevy Chase in the title role. As with most screwball comedies of this nature, the 'plot' is really nothing more than an excuse to hang funny scenes on. Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) is hired by a San Diego TV station back in the '70's and hopes to become the first 'anchorwoman.' This causes much consternation among the 'boy's club' in place at the station, which consists of Ron Burgundy, reporter Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), weatherman Brick Tamland (Steve Carell), and sportscaster 'Champ Kind' (David Koechner). They and the rest of the supporting cast each have their moments, but it's fair to say this was Carell's breakout role and he steals several scenes that he's in, his mentally-challenged character providing some of the film's most inspired lunacy. 'Anchorman' was written by Ferrell and director Adam McKay, and much of the dialogue has since passed into the modern lexicon, with such terms and phrases as "jazz flute" and "I love lamp" instantly recognizable as being from the film. Will Ferrell, like most comedians, has his devotees and his detractors; if you count yourself among the former, you will find 'Anchorman' a laugh-out-loud experience almost from start to finish.