Movie Review: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Possible spoilers ahead!!

Brace yourselves:

“Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues”  is one of the worst movies I’ve seen this year. There, I’ve said it.

is one of the funniest films of the last decade, the sequel doesn’t come close to matching its humor, or charm. Say what you will about the first Anchorman’s weak plot, but at least it had one: Ron Burgundy’s war with feminism as he waits for the biggest story of his career, the birth of a panda.

Sure, the first movie also has moments of surrealism like the flute scene and the rival news gang fight. Silly stuff perhaps, but it all worked well. I guess if it worked once, why not try it again?

In “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” all the best bits from the first flick get reheated and served up. Once again, Ron has troubles with a lady at work, this time played by Meagan Good. There’s another flute solo, but this one takes place during a figure-skating scene which must have been left over from “Blades of Glory.”

And that famous gang fight? This time they tried to make it more epic,  but it isn’t funny, despite cameos by Sacha Baron Cohen, Kanye West, Will Smith, Marion Cottilard, Jim Carrey, John C. Reilly, Liam Neeson, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Harrison Ford.

Oh, I almost forgot. The fight also includes a Minotaur , a cameo by Kirsten Dunst, and Harrison Ford turns into a werewolf or something.

The movie is loaded with every late seventies/ early eighties song you can think of. Almost every scene starts with a classic hit, of which you only hear about 5 seconds of. Reportedly, the budget on Anchorman 2 was $50 million, and I think most of it went into acquiring music rights.

Let’s see, what else?  Ah yes, Champ Kind serves fried bats at his fried chicken place, there’s a bizarre romance between Kristen Wiig and Steve Carell, Ron raises a shark, and did I mention he  goes blind at one point?

“Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” is an unholy mess from which these character will never recover. I think the filmmakers threw every joke they could think of at a wall, and waited to see what stuck.  In a year filled with sequels, “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” was the most disappointing of all.

 “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues”  final score: 3

TNU Box Office Preview: Scotchy, scotch, scotch

Move over you silly little hobbits, the Channel 4 news team is taking over! After nearly a decade, Ron Burgundy and crew return this weekend in “Anchorman: The Legend Continues.” Thanks to long, and I mean long,  marketing campaign and a rabid fanbase, Anchorman 2 should easily open in first place.

Today we think of “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” as a comedy classic, But when the movie opened In July 2004, it peaked at number two, earning $28.4 million. Anchorman ended its domestic run with $85.3 million. The comedy was a modest hit at best. The real success came through strong word-of-mouth, and excellent DVD sales. It wasn’t long before the Legend of Ron Burgandy grew to what it is today.

Paramount’s marketing machine has been working overtime to make sure everyone knows this flick is hitting theatres.The marketing avalanche kicked off in 2012 when Will Ferrell appeared as Ron Burgandy on Conan O’Brien’s talk show. In the last few weeks, Ron Burgundy has popped up everywhere. He co-anchored a North Dakota newscast, he’s sold Dodge Durangos, and even made a stop at Emerson College in Boston.

Anchorman 2 opened at 3,450 locations on Wednesday. Last time I checked, the film had already grossed over $8 million. As of Tuesday, Paramount was expecting $40 to $45 million for its five-day start. However, I think the final number will be more like $53 million.

“American Hustle” expands to around 2,500 locations after opening at six locations last weekend. Sony’s marketing has focused on the talent involved: Every trailer and TV spot points out that the movie comes from the director of Oscar winners “The Fighter” and “Silver Linings Playbook.” The ads also make it clear this movie is loaded with an A-list cast featuring Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, and Jennifer Lawrence.

From what I’ve seen, critics love this movie, as of this morning “American Hustle” sits at 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Not bad, not bad at all. I suspect more good reviews are headed its way after this weekend.

The movie has already racked up seven Golden Globe nominations, and with the heart of award season nearly upon us, expect Hustle to have long legs in theatres. Look for “American Hustle” to open around $20 million.

Meanwhile, Disney’s “Saving Mr. Banks” is expanding to around 2,200 theaters this weekend, “Saving Mr. Banks” tells the story of how Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) convinced P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) to allow Walt Disney Pictures to adapt her book Mary Poppins. With a likable cast, and the director of “The Blind Side,” I expect Mr. Banks will do solid business during the holiday season. For its first weekend in wide release, I think  “Saving Mr. Banks” earns around $15 million.

The only other new movie this weekend is “Walking with Dinosaurs.” Opening in about 3,200 locations, the family film follows a group of CGI dinosaurs on a journey. Where to I have no clue because all the marketing focuses on the comedy aspects. Aiming all the marketing towards a younger audience, may not have been the smartest move by the studio.

Fox has already tried switching gears in the advertising, telling audiences “Experience the adventure that seeks to give kids what Avatar offered to adults.” A little too late if you ask me. Even with 3D showings, “Walking with Dinosaurs” will have a hard time getting past $10 million.