|
July 2004 |
Movie Review:
"Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," stars Will Ferrell as a 70's local news man, back when there wasn't cable TV and these goons were "cool." This is before the news stations hired women to tell the news, and long before the Today Show became all nicey-nice with people who actually like each other. No, this is the Bryant "Where are my Bitches?" Gumbel days. Back then, only "MEN" could recount the news, and people actually waited in line to get their autographs. Ferrell's Ron Burgundy embodies all of these qualities, yet is faced with a crisis when he has to share the spotlight with "Tits McGee," as his cronies refer to her, played by Christina Applegate (caution: link may contain fake nudity). Despite his attempts to thwart her success, Burgundy must come to grips with the fact that her talent supersedes his and that the times are changing. In addition to showcasing Ferrell's comic talent, the film also serves as a vehicle for him to display his hairy, flabby physique. There are several cameo appearances for his buddies such as Stiller, Jack Black, Tim Robbins, and Vaughan gets a slightly bigger role as an anchorman of one of the competitor's stations. While the movie has its moments and funny lines, the story has the characteristics of a Saturday Night Live skit expanded to over 90 minutes. If it weren't for the fact that it was extremely funny and that there were surprisingly good characters, such as the weatherman, played by Jon Stewart Daily Show member Steve Carell, who steals the show, the film's seams would show. Go see the film because it will become one of those films from which our culture will derive many funny quotes and wisecracks. Trust me, afterwards you will be calling people you don't like a "smelly pirate whore" among other things. . Rating: |
Seems like Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughan, Will
Ferrell and the Wilson brothers have figured out the formula and are
milking it for all that it's worth. This summer, in which so many of
us wish to escape the harsh realities of the war in Iraq and that
other place next door whose name I can't remember since our press
has decided not to cover it anymore despite the fact that our
American troops are getting killed there, too, the comedic talents
of this motley crew of minstrels couldn't put more butts in seats.
The success of last year's "Old School" and "Zoolander"
evidently propelled these misfits to produce more films together
that use the same recipe with a different mixture of the same
ingredients. Overall the results are quite satisfying, especially
given the current climate in which we'll come out in droves to pay
$8 to see some snotty teens ruin each other's high school reputation
or some other teenager grow up overnight, or some lukewarm TV comic
try his hand unsuccessfully at the big screen (I think I make my
point). I really enjoyed these films, but since I saw them in such
rapid succession I've probably mixed up some of the details. The
first movie, "Dodge Ball," is good quality Ben Stiller
schtick. He plays a goofy, narcissistic gym owner who attempts to
take over his rival's gym, played by Vaughan. In this one, Vaughan
plays a lovable loser type who's content to give up, but the goons
who work out at his establishment, who would definitely not fit into
Stiller's "beautiful people" salon, convince him to lead
them to victory as a dodge ball team in the obscure league
tournament held each year in Vegas. Their hope is to collect the
prize and pay the back taxes that jeopardize his ownership of his
dumpy, inner-city-high-school-looking gym. I don't want to ruin the
ending for you so I will let you see it for yourself or just rely on
your intellect and past experience to figure out if Vaughan, the
little guy, triumphs over "Bigness Complex" Ben Stiller.
The film has moments of greatness, especially when Rip Torn appears
as dodge ball coach for the gang. Stiller also employs his wife,
Christine Taylor, to play the "love interest" in the film.
There are also people who think they are pirates. The film makes
jabs at ESPN, who broadcasts the tournament on ESPN 8, "The
Ocho." It also skewers extreme sports and overbearing gym rats
among other things. Ultimately the film will make anyone who played
dodge ball as a kid think back to the role that they played in a
game that is no longer played in today's PC kids' world. If you were
good at this game you remember feeling good about not getting hit by
others and belting those less coordinated than you with an inflated
rubber ball, often leaving red, contoured marks on their legs, arms
or faces. If you were one of those less fortunate souls, you
probably remember having had your glasses broken while playing dodge
ball, your front tooth loosened, or just being knocked out of the
game early and therefore not having to participate in gym class. In
fact, the game reminds us of simpler times in the world, when the
winners were those who were already the winners, and the losers were
hit, only to fall down and die. This was a time before Ronald Reagan
sold the losers a bunch of weapons so they could destroy some other
losers, and then they set out to destroy some of the oil companies'
allies, gas each other, beat and torture their women and house
terrorists who hate us. But that's covered in my review of Farenheit
9/11. "Dodge Ball" is a good film worth the money and
makes up for "Along Came Polly" and "Starsky and
Hutch."
