Anchorman

Three stars

Directed by Adam McKay. Screenplay by McKay and Will Ferrell. Released by DreamWorks. Rated PG-13 (for sexual humor, language and comic violence). Running time: 91 minutes.

The cast

Ron Burgundy Will Ferrell
Veronica Corningstone Christina Applegate
Brian Fantana Paul Rudd
Brick Tamland Steve Carell
Champ Kind David Koechner

by Michael Drakulich

Satire and parody always contain a kernel of truth.

With that in mind, "Anchorman" would be almost pathetic if it weren’t poking fun at evening news personalities.

The truth is it's four lead characters — television newscasters — are narcissistic boobs who have the wit, maturity and intelligence of 13-year old boys and thrive on sexually harassing women.

They are the types hard-working, legitimate journalists love to hate: overpaid TelePrompTer readers.

But add a 1970s setting and a comedic cast that comprises Will Ferrell in the lead role, Paul Rudd and some funny cameos, the film makes good on its humorous potential.

Ferrell plays Ron Burgundy, the anchor of the leading evening television newscast in San Diego.

Burgundy doesn’t worry himself with “inconsequential” aspects of journalism, like good stories and hard work. Instead of preparing for a newscast, he guzzles scotch, smokes, and flirts with the women on the set just before going on air. And he’s far more concerned with how good he looks.

Burgundy’s “work” is all in the delivery. He turns on the melodramatic inflections to heighten the effect of their stories. The irony is how seriously he takes himself when he doesn’t take the job very seriously.

The film is set at the beginning of the women's liberation movement, so Burgundy’s success as the most popular news show anchor in San Diego must withstand a little feminine competition.

Veronica Cornerstone (Christina Applegate) is brought to the station to add diversity to its lineup and immediately the station’s chauvinists are up in arms.

We laugh at how Burgundy and the other on-air personalities say and do things that only hubris could bring about. Sportscaster Champ Kind (David Koechner), weatherman Brick Tamland (Steve Carell) and field reporter Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) are unwitting victims of their own success. They don’t know the definition of humility.

After Cornerstone resists their overt sexual advances, the pranks they pull to get her to leave are straight out of home-room at a junior high-school.

While it takes shots at vapid television journalists, it provides more subtle digs at film structure itself.

Its made to be a mock fall from grace when Burgundy commits a cardinal sin on air and is shunned by the audience that once loved him.

When Cornerstone can’t come through with the big story (a Panda birth at the San Diego Zoo), Burgundy is given his shot at redemption.
But it has it’s own take on the traditional love story that brings two seemingly incompatible people together romantically.

Within that plotline is a jab at buddy movies. When one of the team actually falls in love with someone other than himself, it threatens the whole buddy/bachelor friendship he had with the other three guys.

Ferrell is not quite as funny as he was in “Elf” last year, but he pulls it off. You get the sense his character stepped right out of a party at the Playboy Mansion with Hef and Barbi Benton.

The real gem here, the one who gets the loudest laughs is Steve Carell as Brick Tamland.

Tamland tells us at the beginning he has an IQ of 48. And throughout, his one-liners at in opportune times and mishandling of punch lines are comedically terrific.

Carell played Evan Baxter, nemesis to Jim Carrey in last year’s “Bruce Almighty” and he has appeared on “The Daily Show.”

This is Carell’s most visible feature role to date. If the film does anything, it may prove the springboard to more work for him.

Michael Drakulich is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He may be reached at
mdrakulich@starnewspapers.com
or (708) 802-8841.