Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Will Ferrell is not the most subtle or understated actor out there, but the movie does have nice attention to small details, and I can appreciate the "craftsmanship" of his writing.

One of my favorite scenes is when Ron and his crew are attacked "Guys and Dolls" style by the #2 news team. That would have been a good scene, but then the #3 news team shows up. Then the PBS news team. Then the Spanish news team. It's that kind of thing that makes this film a little better than average for me.

Another scene that I liked is when Ron's dog survives the dropkick attack from the motorcyclist Ron hits with a burrito (Jack Black). We see the dog again as Ron and Veronica are trapped in the Bear exhibit at the San Diego Zoo. It's the dog who is able to communicate with the bears, securing their release. The dog's dialogue is pure Will Ferrell.

I haven't watched any other Will Ferrell films. At least not on purpose. When he was on SNL, I was a big fan. Certain members of the SNL cast always used to stand out, and some, like Ferrell, Joe Piscopo, and Phil Hartman, always seemed to be in every sketch. To a certain degree, I think I like Will better in sketch stuff -- shorter bursts... but I have to admit that his Ron Burgundy character is well-developed and pretty cool.

The depth of talent in this film is pretty special too. I feel like just listing out the individuals who appear with a small part: Fred Armisen, Seth Rogen, Danny Trejo, Luke Wilson, Ben Stiller, Tim Robbins, Vince Vaugh, and Barney, Betty, and Whooper the Bears.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

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