Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Sequel: “Anchorman: The Legend Continues” (2013)

“There are three things I am good at, fighting, screwing, and readin the news…” Veronica Corningstone (played by Christina Applegate)

If you are one of the millions of Will Ferrell fans out there, chances are you will think this movie is hilarious. As one of those fans, I laughed my way through most of this movie. He is a funny man, there are no two ways about it. However, the film also contains many elements most Christian parents would deem inappropriate.

The film tells the story of Ron Burgandy (Ferrell) a hugely popular San Diego news man, head anchor of the number one news station in the city, along with his coworkers: sports man Champ Kind (David Koechner), reporter Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), and weather man Brick Tamland (played by the hilarious Steve Carell). The four men love their work and the station, until their boss Ed Harken (Fred Willard) shakes things up by bringing in a new female reporter, Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate).

All the men are instantly smitten, and make fools of themselves trying to win a date with her. Corningstone is seen as a sex symbol, and right away the men make crude jokes about her and her body. However, she is the only female character in this film, and sadly she is portrayed as a sex-crazed bimbo, even as we are being told to believe she is the smart one who will revolutionalize the news studio. Ron gets a chance to take her out on the town, and ends up sleeping with her, in a very odd scene involving animation.

The film is not appropriate for children, due to the language (including the f-word, and numerous God D*** uses), and to the abundance of sexual content. There is no nudity or real sex scenes, however, the jokes and comments made throughout the movie prove all the characters to be sex obsessed. At the beginning of the film, a number of female party guests are seen lounging around in their underwear; certainly not something parents need their kids seeing.

The film has its moments of humor (genuine non-sexual humor), but the crude content outweighs anything good. There is also a bizarre fight scene near the end that is rather violent considering the genre.

In my opinion, “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy” ranks as a C+.

For anyone interested, a number of cameos are in this film, most rather funny, from SNL stars, as well as other former Ferrell movie cast members.

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Heavy

Will Ferrell co-wrote the screenplay for “Anchorman” with Adam McKay, a former “Saturday Night Live” head writer and founder of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade comedy troupe. McKay is also making his directorial debut on “Anchorman”. Judd Apatow (“The Cable Guy” TV’s “Freaks and Geeks”) is producing the film, with Shauna Robertson (“Meet The Parents”, “Elf”), David O. Russell (“Three Kings”, “Flirting With Disaster”) and David Householter (“The Core”) co-producing.

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

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