Anchorman 2
The Return of Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy: When Will It Be Released?
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy was a tremendous financial success in 2004. Now, after persistent rumours, there appears to be a sequel in the works.
There have been many profound and important films in cinematic history. From Gone with the Wind (1939) to Lawrence of Arabia (1962) to Schindler’s List (1993), cinema has strived to depict reality and truth through the visual image. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) is not one of these films. It is not a cinematic masterpiece and does not alter society’s perception of history.
Yet, it is an extremely hilarious film and one may find themselves easily absorbed into it by the satirical tongue and cheek humor that defines it. To be honest, Anchorman deserves to be mentioned as one of the greatest comedies of the past decade. For all that it is not, Anchorman is a film that brought together a group of talented artists and helped to establish them within Hollywood.
The Cast and Crew of Anchorman
Anchorman takes place in 1970s San Diego and focuses on a local television station (channel 4) and the wide range of personalities that inhabit it. In this environment, four male reporters are at the top of their game. They consistently win the ratings war with the other networks and thus celebrate by partying like rock stars. The team consists of Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), “Champ” Kind (David Koechner) and Brick Tamland (Steve Carell). They share a tight bond until Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) is hired and threatens to destroy this team by her desire to become the first ever anchorwoman.
Anchorman was a coming out party for many talented individuals. Will Ferrell truly exploded as a result and went on to star in such films as Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby (2006) and Blades of Glory (2007). Both were tremendous successes and he continues to be recognized as one of the most important comedians working in Hollywood today.
Steve Carell also rose to fame after his role as the “slightly” slow, Brick Tamland. A talented comedian, Carell went on to star in The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) and Evan Almighty (2007) and appears regularly on NBC’s hit show, The Office (2005-Present) as Michael Scott (the “boss”).
Producer Judd Apatow quickly rose to prominence as well. At the present moment, he is the hottest producer in the business. After Anchorman, he went on to produce such films as The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked up (2007), Superbad (2007) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008).
Director Adam McKay, an alum of Saturday Night Live with Will Ferrell, also saw his star rise in Hollywood. Immediately after Anchorman, McKay went on to direct Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and the upcoming Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly film entitled Stepbrothers (2008).
Even comedic sensation Seth Rogen, virtually unknown at this time, had an appearance in the film. Though his part was miniscule, Rogen would go on to star in The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked up (a lead role) and Superbad (also co-wrote).
Anchorman 2?
In a recent interview with Collider.com, Adam McKay made mention of a possible sequel to Anchorman. The writer-director told Collider.com that as long as he could assemble the original cast, a sequel would definitely happen.
However, McKay is presently involved with another film so many reports indicate that the earliest a possible sequel may arrive would not be until 2010. There has been no mention of any possible storylines but there are rumors circulating about that it may take place in Europe.
Sequels are generally hard to pull off and sometimes they contaminate the original with their contempt and desire to cash in on its success. There is a danger in attempting to duplicate the accomplishments of the original but if the entire team does sign on to participate; it may be one of those rare occurrences where the sequel becomes just as funny.
Anchorman is truly a comedic gem destined to go down as one of the funniest films of all time. Ron Burgundy is a straight laced character who adamantly believes in the billboards indicating his greatness. Will Ferrell’s straight laced approach to the eccentric Ron Burgundy is truly masterful (which makes the film as funny as it is) and may go down as Ferrell’s best performance ever. In fact, the entire cast is at their best which truly helps to bring a solid foundation to the overall impact of the film.
Some may find the characters irritating and obnoxious and may find the comedy irreverent. However, the film is surprisingly smart and does focus on, through comedy, the woman’s struggle for equality in the working world. So, in a way, the film does sketch a period of history that truly altered the job world of today. Yet, for all that the film achieves, Anchorman tosses everything in, including the kitchen sink, to amuse and entertain. It may not be Gone with the Wind but Anchorman is truly a memorable classic.
Source:
IMDB.com
