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The student news site of New Trier High School

New Trier News

The student news site of New Trier High School

New Trier News

“Whammy!” Burgundy stays classy in Anchorman 2

In a follow up to Adam Mckay’s classic “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” provided outrageous laughs and gags for all to enjoy.

Will Ferrel leads another star studded cast in the second installment of the Ron Burgundy saga.  Notable supporting actors include: Paul Rudd, Steve Carrel, David Koechner, Christina Applegate, Kristen Wiig, Dylan Baker, Meagan Good, Josh Lawson and Harrison Ford.   Cameos by Jim Carey, Kanye West, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Will Smith, John C. Reilly, and Vince Vaughn added even more star power to the cast.

The next chapter in the legend of Ron Burgundy begins when Ron (Ferrel) is forced to assemble his news team after being fired by his childhood idol Mack Tannen (Ford).  Also, his now wife, Veronica Corningstone (Applegate), is offered the nightly news anchor job, replacing the retiring Tannen.  Ron, enraged by Tannen’s decision, forces Veronica to choose between him or the job.  Victoria eventually chooses the job, and Ron is left to fend for himself.

After a drunken bender, Ron is fired from his job as an announcer at Sea World.  Freddie Schaap (Baker), a represeentative for Global News Network finds Ron lying on the floor after a fit off depression.  He later takes Burgundy out for breakfast and tries to hire him for a new job at GNN, a new 24-hour news network based in New York City that is being funded by multi-millionaire Kench Allenby (Lawson).

But first, Burgundy has to track down the rest of his crew who have gone their separate ways.  Ron is forced to search all over the country for his former news team.  Sports man, Champ Kind (Koechner), has started a chain of fried chicken (or the cheaper alternative, bats) restaraunts, investigative reporter, Brian Fantana (Rudd), has become a world famous cat photographer, and beloved weatherman, Brick Tamland (Carrel), has “died” at sea, or so the team thinks.

Not only does the reuniting of the news team bring some of the best laughs throughout the movie, including Brick reading his own eulogy and a trip down memory lane when the team recalls storied from their past, but it sets the viewer up for the hysterical farces to follow.

Once Ron and his team reach New York they meet their new feisty, female, and much to Ron’s surprise, black boss, Linda Jackson (Good).  Burgundy and his crews time at GNN includes ratings battles with fellow anchors at the station, love affairs with Ms. Jackson, and not to mention changing the way news would be read for generations to come.

Ron and the rest of the ex-Channel 4 News Team wind through the beginnings of the 80’s.  In addition to the up and coming world of 24-hour news, Burgundy and company encounter everything from sex-crazed bosses, suicide, shark attacks, Ron’s new tag line and even the ghost of “Stonewall” Jackson.

“Papa Burgundy” and his compadres have a new style and a new job, but the team still provides the same uproarious antics we loved from the first movie, including: updated 80s style, ugly suits, Baxter, Ron’s heroic and adorable puppy, and a jazz flute solo captivate viewers throughout.

Contrary to some, Ron and the crew keep viewers on their toes, eagerly awaiting the next hilarious joke.  While somewhat raunchy, writers Mckay and Ferrel provide outrageous gags that most New Trier students will enjoy.  Ferrel continues to cement his legacy as Ron Burgundy, while Koechner, Carrel and Rudd prove to be intricate pieces in the Anchorman series’s legacy.   While others criticize the obscenity of the movie, I believe it adds to the comedic genius of Ferrel and Mckay.

Viewers will also enjoy other occurring gags from the first movie like Champ Kinds signature catchphrase “Whammy,” Brian Fantana’s world famous jimmy cabinet, and Brick Tamland’s irresistibly funny stupidity.  Burgundy and company provide laughs for all to enjoy, putting a stamp on one the funniest  and most successful classics of our generation.

This is Ben Portnoy signing off.  Don’t just have a great day, have an American day.

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