Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Adam McKay

Writers (WGA):

Will Ferrell (written by) &
Adam McKay (written by)

Release Date:

9 July 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

His news is bigger than your news.

Plot:

Ron Burgundy is San Diego's top rated newsman in the male dominated broadcasting of the 1970's, but that's all about to change when a new female employee with ambition to burn arrives in his office.

Plot Keywords:

1970s | Anchorman | Newsroom | Cat | Sexism

Awards:

1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Will Ferrell	...	Ron Burgundy
Christina Applegate	...	Veronica Corningstone
Paul Rudd	...	Brian Fantana
Steve Carell	...	Brick Tamland
David Koechner	...	Champ Kind
Fred Willard	...	Ed Harken
Chris Parnell	...	Garth Holliday
Kathryn Hahn	...	Helen
Fred Armisen	...	Tino
Seth Rogen	...	Eager Cameraman
Paul F. Tompkins	...	MC
Danny Trejo	...	Bartender
Scot Robinson	...	Waiter at Tino's
Ian Roberts	...	Stage Manager
Darcy Donavan	...	Hot Blonde

Also Known As:

Action News (USA) (working title)
Action News! With Ron Burgundy (USA) (original script title)
Action Newsman (USA) (working title)
Anchorman (USA) (short title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual humor, language and comic violence. (edited for re-rating)

Runtime:

94 min | USA:104 min (extended version) | Canada:97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14A (DVD rating) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Netherlands:6 | Malaysia:U (DVD) | Sweden:11 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Ireland:12 | Norway:11 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:12A | USA:R (original rating) | USA:Unrated (uncut DVD version) | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) (certificate no. 40782)

Filming Locations:

Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

This film had been pitched to DreamWorks nearly 20 times before, following the successes of "Old School" and "Elf". DreamWorks had little faith in the film, doubting Ferrell and McKay were able to pull off an entire film based on news anchors. Despite the doubts the film would bomb, it grossed $84 million domestically and the director had so much extra footage they were able to make a second film out of it.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the scene after Veronica gets selected as the new co-anchor, the first newspaper spells her name "Cornerstone" and all the others spell it "Corningstone"

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bill Lawson: [narration] There was a time, a time before cable. When the local anchorman reigned supreme. When people believed everything they heard on TV. This was an age when only men were allowed to read the news. And in San Diego, one anchorman was more man then the rest. His name was Ron Burgundy. He was like a god walking amongst mere mortals. He had a voice that could make a wolverine purr and suits so fine they made Sinatra look like a hobo. In other words, Ron Burgundy was the balls.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Planet of the Apes (1968)

Soundtrack:

Grazing in the Grass

The bomb.com!

As I sit and watch Anchorman for what must be the 1000th time, I can't help but ask myself; WHY? Well, the answer is simple. This movie freaking rocks! It boasts an unbelievable amount of one-liners that I am spouting constantly. It could quite possibly become the most often quoted movie ever. Will Ferrell's over-the-top performance, along with other cast members equally daring acts, makes you wonder how much of the movie was scripted, and how much was ad-lib. All of the characters support each other so well, that it is nearly impossible not to have a favorite line from each one.

I am not a fan of all of Ferrell's movies (especially Kicking and Screaming), but this one will be near the top of my list for years to come, I'm sure.

Because, as we all know, 'Sixty percent of the time, it works every time!'