Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues – Film Review

I really loved the original film, “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”. It’s not hard to find someone who enjoyed it. So when a sequel after 10 years of waiting was announced, I was very excited.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” brings Ron Burgundy and his co-anchor friends, Brick TamlandBrian Fantana and Champ Kind played by Will FerrellSteve CarrellPaul Rudd and David Koechner back into the spotlight reading the news. This time however, our favourite characters have relocated to New York and are now doing national news as opposed to back in San Diego in the first film. It is no longer about wooing and competing with the perfect woman that Ron is flabbergasted about, but is instead about Ron trying to maintain his anchorman career on a 24 hour news channel whilst at the same time trying to be a good father.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I didn’t like the whole father thing, and found the son character very annoying. When I want to go see Ron Burgundy in all his ‘peacocking’ glory, I don’t want to see him being a dad. It’s funny when it’s just him and his friends, but when the character is passing his stupidity onto a child, it’s just not funny anymore. In fact, I rarely laughed viewing this film.

Steve Carrell shines in this film, reunited with the character he originated ten years ago, Brick Tamland who always seems to have the best one liners and the best moments on screen. I am not sure whether this is due to the writing, or the magic of Carrell‘s talent, but every single scene that Carrell was in was funny. The other main characters on screen including Ron Burgundy himself all seemed lacking and under developed.

Christina Applegate‘s character Veronica Corningstone also returns from the original film, but we barely see her at all, which is a shame because Applegate‘s on-screen chemistry with Will Ferrell was dynamite last time around, and in this film she’s only just there like a prop. Kristen Wiig is a great actress, but as Chani in Anchorman 2, she seemed very unnecessary and very forgettable. And what was the point of that Linda Jackson character played by Meagan Good? If it was to see Ron Burgundy hook up with another woman whilst somehow also keeping Veronica Corningstone, well then, that suckedand none of those scenes with her in it were funny at all.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” seemed very promising but failed to deliver the magic it once delivered 10 years ago in the original film which was quotable and actually funny. Fans will still go see it regardless and make it a blockbuster hit, I’m sure. But that still doesn’t excuse this movie from absolutely sucking. Best parts? Ever single scene with Steve Carrell, Harrison Ford as Mack Tannen and the cameos at the end of the film. Other than that, this film was just plain awful.

If given another chance, perhaps there may be an “Anchorman 3” to redeem the mess that was made in this film. But not every film that fails is given a second chance. With the ticket sales this film is getting, who knows? But if a third film is released, it is unlikely that I will be going to see it in the cinemas. Now excuse me whilst I mourn the magic of the first film and what could have been.

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