Anchorman – The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (HD-DVD)
Picture:
B Sound: B- Extras: C+ Film: C+
An early
Judd Apatow-produced feature release that almost worked, Adam McKay’s Anchorman – The Legend Of Ron Burgundy
(2004) is a sometimes amusing send-up of old 1970s Big Three Network-era local
TV news with Will Ferrell in one of his better performances as the macho title
character. It is enjoyable how the
production has enjoyably accurate moments remembering that time, mocking it to
high heaven, but also has a few laughs that are modernly, overtly sexual and
even gross.
However,
it leans too much towards the latter and that throws a potentially classic
comedy off kilter too often. Burgundy is
challenged when a new female reporter (Christina Applegate) is paired with him
for the evening news, throwing his whole personality in kilter. Some of that works, some does not. All in all, it is worth a look for the laughs
we do get and besides Paul Rudd being amusing, many will want to see this for
Steve Carell’s surprisingly good supporting performance, but just don’t get
your hopes up too much.
The 1080p
1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image was shot in HD and though there is
motion blur here and there, it is one of the more stable early HD shoots. Unfortunately, the image can look strained
and colors a bit odd too often, especially when they should not. The Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 has little
soundfield, as this is a dialogue-based comedy with funny monophonic-designed
music to mock the mono news music of the time.
It is listenable at best. Extras
include over an hour of featurettes and goofy items like an “Afternoon Delight”
Music Video.
At least
they know this era.
- Nicholas Sheffo
