Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
With the 70s behind him, San Diego's top rated newsman, Ron Burgundy, returns to take New York's first 24-hour news channel by storm.
What critics thought
The sequel lands enough laughs to justify its existence, with critics broadly agreeing that Ferrell and company still generate manic, improvisational energy and that the film's sendup of the 24-hour news cycle has genuine satirical bite. Where critics split is on whether that's enough: some found it nearly as funny as its predecessor, while others saw a bloated, structureless barrage of gags that never builds toward anything and overstays its welcome by a significant margin. The gap between its most enthusiastic defenders and its harshest detractors is wide, and nearly everyone agrees it falls short of the original's quotability.
“It's a constant barrage of joke-joke-joke, but they're all gags that take place in the moment and are immediately shoved aside for the next one. Nothing builds. There are no setups for later payoffs.”
Alonso Duralde·The Wrap
“Fans have been clamoring for a sequel to Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy for so long, Will Ferrell (and financier Paramount Pictures) finally decided to give the people what they wanted. The moral of the story? Be careful what you wish for.”
Rene Rodriguez·Miami Herald
“Comedy sequels generally follow the law of diminishing returns. If it has a 2—or, classier yet, a II—in the title, the smart money says that it won't be as funny as the original. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues doesn't defy that axiom, but it's still plenty hilarious in a reheated sort of way.”
Chris Nashawaty·Entertainment Weekly
“It may not leave the same imprint on American culture as its super-quotable predecessor. But it has moments of howling hilarity and the improvisatory spirit that gave Ron Burgundy's origin story its shaggy, ramshackle charm.”
Star Tribune
“The movie lacks an effective comedic structure. There's nothing to stop Ferrell and co-writer/director Adam McKay from wobbling across the fine line between stupid and clever like they've had too much scotch.”
Joe Williams·St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Genres
Comedy
Cast & Crew
DirectorAdam McKay
StarringWill Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Christina Applegate
ComposerAndrew Feltenstein, John Nau
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
With the 70s behind him, San Diego's top rated newsman, Ron Burgundy, returns to take New York's first 24-hour news channel by storm.
What critics thought
The sequel lands enough laughs to justify its existence, with critics broadly agreeing that Ferrell and company still generate manic, improvisational energy and that the film's sendup of the 24-hour news cycle has genuine satirical bite. Where critics split is on whether that's enough: some found it nearly as funny as its predecessor, while others saw a bloated, structureless barrage of gags that never builds toward anything and overstays its welcome by a significant margin. The gap between its most enthusiastic defenders and its harshest detractors is wide, and nearly everyone agrees it falls short of the original's quotability.
“It's a constant barrage of joke-joke-joke, but they're all gags that take place in the moment and are immediately shoved aside for the next one. Nothing builds. There are no setups for later payoffs.”
Alonso Duralde·The Wrap
“Fans have been clamoring for a sequel to Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy for so long, Will Ferrell (and financier Paramount Pictures) finally decided to give the people what they wanted. The moral of the story? Be careful what you wish for.”
Rene Rodriguez·Miami Herald
“Comedy sequels generally follow the law of diminishing returns. If it has a 2—or, classier yet, a II—in the title, the smart money says that it won't be as funny as the original. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues doesn't defy that axiom, but it's still plenty hilarious in a reheated sort of way.”
Chris Nashawaty·Entertainment Weekly
“It may not leave the same imprint on American culture as its super-quotable predecessor. But it has moments of howling hilarity and the improvisatory spirit that gave Ron Burgundy's origin story its shaggy, ramshackle charm.”
Star Tribune
“The movie lacks an effective comedic structure. There's nothing to stop Ferrell and co-writer/director Adam McKay from wobbling across the fine line between stupid and clever like they've had too much scotch.”
Joe Williams·St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Genres
Comedy
Cast & Crew
DirectorAdam McKay
StarringWill Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Christina Applegate
ComposerAndrew Feltenstein, John Nau