The following review is based on actual events.
Only the names, places, and events have been changed.
There was a time. A time before streaming. When I was planning on going on my first date, my parents were insisting that I rent Mr. and Mrs. Smith (with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie). I had no intention of having Megan (who I last heard is married with kids and I hope is doing well) over and having my family embarrassing me. The other option was the newly released film The Notebook, which she had already seen (and would be our second date a week or so later). My mind was made up: We saw Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy (2004), which was already my second time viewing it.
No other film this century has been more quotable. Sure, “I’m the dude, playing the dude, disguised as another dude!” is one of many from Tropic Thunder (2008) and “I am Mclovin” from Superbad (2007) are iconic, but in the case of Anchorman, nearly any quote can be your favorite and no one would argue it (one of the leaders of my church, Damon, is such a fan that, when he was helping at a summer camp years ago, I mailed certain campers random lines to say to him, not to mention sending him a channel four news microphone.)
The plot is…well, just enough to make sense. The amount of riffing on this film must have been truly insane. It is hard to imagine anyone writing a scene where a man would talk to his dog with lines like “You know I don’t speak spanish!” followed by “You pooped in the refrigerator? And you ate the whole wheel of cheese? How did you do that? I’m not even mad, that’s amazing!”
All of the actors here are just perfect in their roles. Will Ferrell has yet to have a more iconic role, Fred Willard displays why he was one of the best character actors of the last 30 plus years, Christina Applegate is honestly underappreciated as the love interest, and the minor roles played by various upcomers like Kathryn Hahn and Seth Rogen cannot be ignored (that is not to mention the cameos).
Then there is the news team. It is virtually impossible for me to see David Koechner and not think of Champ. Paul Rudd has been in an insane amount of films this century, yet if I saw him in person, I would immediately ask “Is that Sex Panther you’re wearing?” Then, of course, there is Steve Carrell as Brick Tamland. If ever there were a character that proves supporting characters can steal a comedy, this is it. Some first came to know him as Michael Scott on the US version of The Office, or as Gru from Despicable Me (it is worth remembering he started out as a correspondent on The Daily Show). To me, he is always the man with the IQ of 48, and what some people call…well, you know.
I could keep quoting this film that has lived rent free in my head for 20 plus years, but that would ruin it for anyone who somehow has not seen this. If you haven’t, you are more than welcome to join with this invitation to the pants party.
The party. Pants…Party with pants.
Don’t worry, studies have shown that 60% of the time it works…every time.
(As of this writing, Anchorman is available to stream on Paramount Plus and Rent on VOD.)
Nothing else to say 