Anchorman 2 - The Legend Returns

For some time, it really did look like quality journalism was dead for good. But now comes the long overdue salvation in the form of Anchorman Ron Burgundy. After a ten-year absence from the screen, the news anchor legend and his team show the younger generation what a real newsman is made of. At the beginning of Anchorman 2, it looks as if Burgundy is at the end of his rope, both professionally and personally. Not only does he lose his job. His marriage to Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) is also on the rocks. But just when it seems Ron Burgundy can't fall any lower, he receives a surprising offer. The new station GNN is planning the incredible experiment of broadcasting news 24 hours a day and Ron is to be one of the faces of this new news concept. But of course, he needs the perfect team to do it. And so Ron first sets about rounding up his old Action 4 News team, scattered to the winds. On their way to New York, Ron, Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), Brick Tamland (Steve Carell) and Champ Kind (David Koechner) are already dreaming of their new fame. But once they arrive at GNN, they find they're being burned in the middle of the night while arrogant Jack Lime (James Marsden) gets prime time. But of course a Ron Burgundy doesn't take that lying down and after his first appearance it's already clear: the legend is back!

The comedy Anchorman was a real surprise hit in the USA in 2004, which has become a real cult film over the years. But while the comedy managed to gross nearly $90 million in the States, many times its production cost, hardly anyone outside the US wanted to see the film. Just $5 million was earned by Will Ferrell and his colleagues in the international market. Still, the success in the US was enough to bring Ron Burgundy back to the big screen after ten years. And in the meantime, the very special news anchorman has probably found his fans abroad as well, as Part 2 has managed to bring in over 120 million dollars from America as well as over 40 million dollars in various international markets so far. And this, although Anchorman 2 is much more American than many other comedies and many of the allusions and puns can hardly be adequately translated into other languages.

The reason for the success of Anchorman 2 is therefore probably less due to the satirical elements, but to the fact that the film is just generally damn funny. As with part 1, the humor here is again characterized by an unrestrained silly stupidity, which has little real depth and often also just seems pointless - but exactly therefore also makes a lot of fun. There are moments when Anchorman 2 could pass for media satire. But first and foremost, the comedy is a grandiose Klamauk, even the silliest Kalauer with so much charm and obvious joy of all involved presented that it is hard not to laugh constantly hearty here.

Sure, there are also some gags whose punchline fizzle into nothing or which are so overused that it is simply no longer funny in the end. But these moments are the exception. Especially when Steve Carell as the wonderfully crazy weatherman Brick Tamland loses his heart to the no less strange Chani (Kristen Wiig) or Ron does a hot figure skating cross flute number for his fans, then minor sags are quickly forgotten. And at the latest when it comes to a big news team showdown at the end, as in part 1, with quite a few stars delivering unexpected and extremely funny guest appearances, there really isn't a dry eye left.

Is Anchorman 2 particularly intelligent or profound comedy? Probably not. Is the film outright nonsense? Oh yes. But unlike many other comedies that just string one tastelessness after another in a very silly way, this sequel has a very special charm and enough good punchlines to at least keep all fans of the first film and Will Ferrell's very own sense of humor well entertained. Anchorman 2 is a bit like Brick Tamland - completely off the wall and yet just adorable! And for that there is a clear: Worth seeing!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp