Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) - Review

Comedy sequels occasionally have the problem of trying to one-up the original in both laughs and ridiculousness, ending up in a totally unrelatable place from which no real comedy can be derived.  Luckily Anchorman 2 largely avoids this problem because the first one was so completely weird and insane that it’s hard to get any dumber.  But Ferrell and McKay found a way – oh they found a way.

Too much of the beginning of this movie is focused on setting things up so the main four (Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and that annoying-as-hell guy that you want to forget) can get back together and start their wacky antics.  But while we’re waiting for that, we get some new additions to the comedic lineup.

Some work, many don’t.  Greg Kinnear, for instance, is fantastic as always as Veronica Corningstone’s new psychiatrist boyfriend.  Judah Nelson, who plays Ron Burgundy’s kid Walter, is probably the most adorable little kid in the world, and whenever the film calls for him to be cute, he nails it.  Other standouts include Harrison Ford and Kristen Wiig.  David Koechner, however, is still insufferable as cowboy redneck Champ Kind; Dylan Baker is far more obnoxious than I’ve ever seen him; and Meagan Good tries but fails to make the “strong black woman” stereotype work in any way.

This movie's comedic subtlety encapsulated

Having said all of that, Ferrell, Carell, and Rudd really do make the film.  While the script is just an amped-up version of the original, taking every joke just a step further to keep things fresh, the delivery of these guys usually makes it worth it.  There’s also a hilariously prolonged sequence about caring for a ferocious shark, so if you’re into that sort of thing, you’re going to love it.

I really dug this movie when I saw it in the theaters, but having seen it again since then dampened a lot of my enjoyment from it.  It’s just not as rewatchable as the first installment, which itself is by no means a classic.  If you like the off-the-wall Adam McKay / Will Ferrell comedy, then watch it – it’s certainly better than The Other Guys.  Stay classy, guys.