Tuesday 21 January 2014

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Review: Comedy Legends or Playing it Safe?


Director: Adam McKay

UK Release Date: 18th December 2013

Run Time: 119 minutes

Starring: Will Ferrell, Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Christina Applegate


Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues sees Will Ferrell, Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Christina Applegate reprise their roles as San Diego's favourite news team. The news team is again headed up by Ferrell's character Ron Burgandy - as they aim to take New York's  first ever 24 hour news channel to the top.  With a run time just shy of two hours this fan favourite comedy produces many laughing moments on what is unfortunately a weak storyline.

Burgundy finds and brings back together his news team of Brick Tamland (Carrell), Brian Fantana (Rudd) and Champ Kind (Koechner), to take on 24 hour news reporting.  Along the way the film provides great comedy moments from scenes that can only be described as being utterly silly to others where what is produced it quite simply comedy gold. 

 
That being said the storyline is somewhat of a let down. Yes it produces many moments that have the audience laughing aloud to themselves but overall the story is weak and quite frankly a disappointment.  It follows the usual and predictable route that many comedies take with the usual high followed by a setback and is concluded with a happy ending. This can be seen to be very frustrating as it would be interesting to see the great line up of comedic actors in the Anchorman project to attempt something a bit more challenging while still producing great comedy moments. 

Even with this small gripe it is very difficult to not love this film.  The link up between Ferrell, Carrell, Rudd and Koechner is perfect and the comedy flows from scene to scene.  Special mention goes to Carrell's character Brick who could have a whole film about himself.  The character provides many of the better laughs that the film provides and his popularity is only going to increase after being a favourite in the first Anchorman film, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004).

The film has to be complemented on its cameo appearances as well.  Like its predecessor, there is a big scene with even bigger names making brief but hilarious appearances.  Names include Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Kanye West, Will Smith, Jim Carrey, Liam Neeson, Sacha Baron Cohen, Drake, John C. Reilly, Harrison Ford, Kirsten Dunst and Tina Fey.

With a heavy advertising and marketing campaign established for the launch of this film at the end of 2013, interest and expectation was at a high and viewers will not be disappointed.  Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is a good comedy that will have the majority of people laughing throughout.

M+F Rating: 7/10


 
 
Reviewed by M+F Reviews.

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