It is a very special day in every way because this year, ‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy’ is celebrating its 20th year. Releasing in 2004, it wasn’t long before it became a full-fledged comedy classic in actuality owing to its offbeat humor, some one-liners that could limp your mind with wonder, and the roster of old stars courtesy of which the most quotable moments in film history are served. Anchorman” has entered its twentieth year of cultural impact, and it certainly left its mark well and truly in popular culture while continuing to entertain generations of new viewers.
Directed by Adam McKay and written by McKay and Will Ferrell, who also stars as the eponymous Ron Burgundy, ‘Anchorman’ is a satirical take on the world of 1970s broadcast news. The movie centers around Burgundy, the egotistical, mustachioed news anchor who sees his domination in the newsroom threatened by the arrival of a talented female reporter, Veronica Corningstone, played by Christina Applegate.
While anchored by Ferrell’s over the top performance as the accident-prone yet lovable Ron Burgundy, the movie’s real charm lies within its ensemble cast, including lovable but dim-witted Brick Tamland as played by Steve Carell, charmingly clueless Brian Fantana as played by Paul Rudd, and oblivious Champ Kind as played by David Koechner, which has helped the comedic dynamic of the film remain iconic to this very day. The humor and chemistry of characters in ‘Anchorman’ easily make it the box office smash or, at least, a staple of comedy filmmaking.
Over the scenes, it was even in the improvisational comedy that Anchorman will alter the norm. Ferrell and co-stars are famously known for having improvised some of the most memorable scenes from the film, including the great line, “You stay classy, San Diego.” Deeply behind the gut-busting humor, absurdity, and satire that defined this film was what turned it into a great comedy.
Since its premiere, ‘Anchorman’ has only grown in stature, inspiring such quotable lines as entered everyday conversation and a successful sequel, ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’. All of this speaks to the influence the film has had on countless television shows and films that followed from its take no prisoners approach to gender dynamics at work to its fearlessness in embracing the absurd.
Undeniably, Ron Burgundy’s legacy lives on as we mark ‘Anchorman’ into its 20th year. The joke that it made remains a treasured humor with both heart and irreverence running through it. It justifies being revisited for the hundredth time or being watched for the first time as a comedy film.
