Back in
2004, when Ron Burgundy and his Channel 4 News Team first conveyed the glory
and ambiance of San Diego, they ended up delivering comedy gold that not only
defined my high school years, but also launched the comedy careers of Paul Rudd
and Steve Carell…all while influencing irreverent humor for the next
decade. Fans the world over were
ecstatic when Will Ferrell appeared in-character on Conan in March 2012 to announce the sequel, and any concerns over
revisiting a classic were quickly quashed by Paramount’s marketing
campaign. Between trailers,
cross-promotions, and guest appearances, you couldn’t turn a corner without
seeing the scotch-swilling simpleton; this game-changing strategy easily made Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues the
most anticipated comedy of the year.
Early critical reaction was surprisingly high, and all pre-release
indicators pointed to an undeniable laugh riot.
Granted, there was always the chance that lightning wouldn’t strike
twice for McKay and Ferrell, but with nine years to develop a worthy follow-up,
there was no way this sequel could sully the name of Ron Burgundy…right?
With all
the promotions and accolades, I don’t think I can be faulted for having high
expectations for Anchorman 2, but
either way, I left that theater bitterly disappointed by overacting and
thoroughly sub-par humor. Members of
both the new and returning cast miss the mark completely, with Dylan Baker
getting excess undeserved screen time, Kristen Wiig being unable to salvage the
horrendous material, and Steve Carell utterly decimating any charm inherent in
his character. Perhaps the most
infuriating element is the script’s misuse of Christina Applegate, whose
chemistry with Ferrell was a defining element of the first film, but is
sacrificed this time around to make room for interracial cheap shots and an
unworthy foil in the form of James Marsden.
There are a few fleeting laughs, but the true saving grace is the
climactic and cameo-filled News Team Battle, which was likely only possible
because Ferrell surrendered his phone book.
In the end, Anchorman 2: The
Legend Continues is nothing more than a shadow of its far-superior
predecessor…one that only further strengthens the argument against comedy
sequels.
Overall
Recommendation: Low
