Movie review: Anchorman 2 The Legend Continues

Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy, left, and Steve Carell as Brick Tamland in a scene from Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.

Will Ferrell accepted a real challenge by making a sequel to 2004's Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy - how can you make a film that's any sillier?

He's responded with more outrageous lines, perms, constant mocking of 24-hour news channels and a star studded finale.

Ron is joined by all of the original San Diego news crew, including sportscaster Champ Kind (David Koechner), weatherman Brick Tamland (Steve Carell) and reporter Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd). Christina Applegate also returns as Ron's wife Veronica.

This time Burgundy and his team are hired by a megalomaniac Australian businessman to work for the first ever 24-hour news channel being set up in New York.

Ferrell parodies the 24-hour news cycle and all that comes with it; live car chases, opinionated hosts, feelgood pro-American stories and gossip disguised as news.
As Burgundy says: "Let's tell the people what they want to hear."

In an era of Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, Anchorman 2 feels more relevant than the earlier 70s routine, but for the most part its just like its predecessor - a collection of gags based around one skit that's been stretched into a feature film.

It's a mix of funny laugh-out loud lines that hit the mark, some that miss and others that border on offensive, such as the boys' inability to deal with having an African American female boss.

The cast are driven to ever increasing levels of absurdity, Steve Carell's Brick verges on deranged and Ron Burgundy continues to share his inner thoughts as if he has Tourette's. It all leads to a final showdown, after some ridiculous twists and turns, which is as hilarious as it is star-studded. It's almost worth the two hours just to see who turns up.

Stars: 3/5
Verdict: More of the same just a little nuttier.
Cast: Will Ferrell, Steve Carrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd
Director: Adam McKay
Running Time: 119 mins
Rating: M (offensive language, sexual references and drug use)