Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)

Anchorman 2

Summary: With the 70’s behind him, San Diego’s top rated newsman, Ron Burgundy, returns to take New York’s first 24-hour news channel by storm.

Year: 2013

Australian Cinema Release Date: 19th December, 2013

Australian DVD Release Date: TBA

Country: USA

Director: Adam McKay

Screenwriter: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay

Cast: Christina Applegate (Veronica Corningstone), Dylan Baker (Freddie Shapp), Steve Carell (Brick Tamland), Jim Carrey (CBC News Anchor), Tom Clark (Curtis Knightfish), Sacha Baron Cohen (cameo), Marion Cotillard (CBS News Anchor), Kirsten Dunst (Alterius: Maiden Of The Clouds), Lori Beth Edgeman (Tina), Will Ferrell (Ron Burgundy), Tina Fey (Entertainment Tonight Reporter), Wilbur Fitzgerald (Dr. Brangley), Harrison Ford (Mack Tannen), Meagan Good (Linda Jackson), Jennifer Gullick (Diane Yahwea), Greg Kinnear (Gary), David Koechner (Champ Kind), Josh Lawson (Kench Allenby), James Marsden (Jack Lime), Zoe Myers (Sam), Liam Neeson (History Channel Host), Judah Nelson (Walter Burgundy), Dave Pileggi (Donna), Amy Poehler (cameo), John C. Reilly (The Ghost Of Stonewall Jackson), Paul Rudd (Brian Fantana), Clark Sarullo (Jessica), Will Smith (Sports Broadcaster), Vince Vaughn (Wes Mantooth), Kanye West (cameo), Kristen Wiig (Chani), Fred Willard (Ed Harken)

Runtime: 119 mins

Classification:M

OUR ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES REVIEWS & RATINGS

Adam Ross: Stars(3)

Please check Adam’s review of ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ that is available on The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show Ep 63

 

Greg King: Stars(4)

Please check Greg’s review of ‘Philomena’ that is available on www.filmreviews.net.au

Nick Gardner: Stars(3)

Please check Nick’s review of ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ that is available on Southern FM

 

David Griffiths:

It was the sequel we were threatened with (er… I mean promised) for years, the sequel to “Anchorman” that would see the legendary Ron Burgundy (arguably Will Ferrell’s most famous character) return to the big screen. Now it’s happened and sadly you get the feeling that true fans of the franchise may be a little disappointed with “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.”

The film begins with Ron working in New York alongside his wife Veronica Corningstone (Christina Appelgate). In Ron’s mind everything is going well, he’s flying with his news reading and the homefront is happy as he and Veronica look after their son, Walter (Judah Nelson). But then comes the crash when veteran newsreader Mack Tannen (Harrison Ford) announces his retirement. Ron and Veronica are sure they have the job but then Mack surprises everybody and hires Veronica and fires Ron. Suddenly things are no longer pretty, not on the work front or the home front.

Then comes a life-line for Ron. The chance to headline a news team at a newly founded 24 hour news station created by Australian media magnate Kench Allenby (Josh Lawson). For that to happen though Ron first of all has to put together his old team. He soon finds that Champ Kind (David Koechner) is running a fast food restaurant with a difference, that Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) is the world’s leading cat photographer and that Brick Tamland (Steve Carell) is farewelling himself at his own funeral.

But that is only the start of the hijinx as the boys soon find out they have a new enemy in the form of the smooth Jack Lime (James Marsden), that their new boss, Linda Jackson (Meagan Good) is.. well… black and that they are hosting the graveyard shift.

Now I’m sure in the back of director and co-screenwriter Adam McKay’s mind “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” is a well thought out satire of the news industry. But it’s not, actually it falls well short if you think back to the comedy gold that was “Frontline”, a television show that was like an early version of “The Office” set amongst a news team.

“Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” cruises for the first half. The film provides the odd laugh here and there but never really reaches the heights it should with such a formidable comedic acting line-up, then comes the difficult second half. Here the film flounders as much as the shark that Ron tries to nurse back to the health. Excuse the pun but the film well and truly jumps the shark (and this time just like “Happy Days” a real shark is involved) with stupid and unnecessary storylines such as Ron’s blindness, shark nursing and a finale that seems to rip off events of the first film and just become a vessel to introduce a few cameos. Credit where credit is due though the cameos are pretty impressive.

One of the big let downs of “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” is the acting. With the likes of Ferrell, Carell and Rudd it’s like the filmmakers have got together some comedy dream team but sadly the script lets them down. They only get to deliver a couple of real laughs each and the second half really becomes the Will Ferrell Show with the others pushed firmly into the background. Even the likes of some heavyweights like Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson being around doesn’t life the film because they are hugely under used.

“Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” is a real let down that deserves to be mentioned alongside some of the ordinary stuff that Adam Sandler has released over the last few years.

Stars(2) 

Average Subculture Rating (out of 5): Stars(3)

IMDB Rating:  Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) on IMDb

Other Subculture Media Reviews of ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues′: Please check our Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues review on The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show Ep 63.

Trailer: