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Tell Others About This Page By Using This Button "ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY" (2004) (Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate Moderate *Heavy Minor Moderate Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Mild Mild Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Heavy None Moderate *Moderate QUICK TAKE: Comedy: An all-male, 1970s era TV news team must deal with a female reporter joining their ranks and getting involved with the popular lead anchor. PLOT: It's the 1970s and San Diego's KVWN news is at the top of the ratings, mainly thanks to popular anchor Ron Burgundy (WILL FERRELL). Along with sports guy Champ Kind (DAVID KOECHNER), reporter Brian Fantana (PAUL RUDD) and clueless weather man Brick Tamland (STEVE CARELL), the Channel 4 news team routinely beats out rival anchor Wes Mantooth (VINCE VAUGHN) and his crew over at Channel 9. It's definitely a man's world, but that's shaken up when manager Ed Harken (FRED WILLARD) informs the guys that the network wants to address diversity concerns and has thus sent reporter Veronica Corningstone (CHRISTINA APPLEGATE) to join the team. That doesn't sit well with the guys, although Ron is instantly smitten with her, leading to a love affair that he can't manage to keep quiet. With the other guys constantly belittling her and Ed throwing her soft-ball reporting assignments, Veronica sets out to prove that she's worthy of being the anchor one day. That then puts pressure on her relationship with Ron, leading to a change in fortune for San Diego's most popular anchorman. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of Ferrell and his comedy antics, or anyone else in the cast, it's a good bet they will. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For sexual humor, language and comic violence. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: WILL FERRELL plays a chauvinistic and sexist TV news anchor who's full of himself on the air and in person, and finds his life and career turned upside down when Veronica enters both. He comes on to and eventually beds her, drinks, smokes and briefly uses strong profanity while mindlessly reading what's on his teleprompter script. CHRISTINA APPLEGATE plays an ambitious TV reporter who must deal with the chauvinistic attitudes at the TV station. She drinks, smokes, uses some profanity and sleeps with Ron. PAUL RUDD plays the field reporter who likes the ladies romantically/sexually, but doesn't see them as equals. He smokes, drinks and uses some profanity. DAVID KOECHNER plays the middle-aged sports guy who also has chauvinistic attitudes but seems to have a romantic longing for Ron. STEVE CARELL plays the clueless weatherman who doesn't seem to have an original thought in his head. FRED WILLARD plays the station manager who hires Veronica but won't give her any real news reporting to do. VINCE VAUGHN plays a rival anchor at another TV station who has it out for Ron and smokes. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and plenty of colorful phrases are uttered. Various instances of sexually related dialogue (and some song lyrics) are present, a couple is seen making out before off-camera sex, and an erection is quite visible in a man's pants. Women and men are seen in revealing attire and there's some brief gay humor. Since the film is a spoof of 1970s era sexism, many men look at women as sexual objects when not putting down their intellect and other abilities. Other bad attitudes are also present. Comedy style violence includes several scenes of fighting between people (with punching, hitting, an arm being cut off and a stabbing) and between people and some bears (in a moment that may be slightly tense for some very young viewers), while a dog is punted off a bridge (but is later okay). Other potentially imitative behavior is present, while various characters drink and/or smoke, and some brief drug-related comments are made. Some brief crude humor also occurs. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE While drinking some of it before going on the air, Ron repeatedly states that he loves scotch. Some miscellaneous people drink beer in a bar. Ron and others drink at a party. Brian and others complain about being hung-over the morning after a party. Ron and Veronica order and have drinks in a restaurant, as do others. Later, we see that they've had several. Ron, Veronica and others have drinks in a restaurant. Ed mentions his son being on something called acid and firing a bow and arrow into a crowd. A mad motorcyclist asks Ron, "What, are you high?" Ron states that among the things he loves is a glass of scotch. A newspaper headline reads that Veronica uncovered a drug ring. Ron and the other guys drink following a rumble. Veronica and other ladies from the TV station have drinks. Some miscellaneous people drink beer in a bar. Ron holds what looks like a large beer can. Miscellaneous people drink in a bar where we see large signs for Budweiser and Michelob. BLOOD/GORE As Ron tries to interpret what his pet dog is barking at him, he asks, "You pooped in the refrigerator?" Brick (who's dimwitted) complains that women's periods attract bears. We briefly see a man sitting on the toilet in a bathroom stall, but don't see or hear anything else. A motorcyclist who's just wiped out on the highway appears to have some slightly bloody scrapes on the side of his face. Ron appears to have a scrape on his face. We see a fake-looking, but nevertheless bloody looking stump on a man's arm. During the outtakes, an actor keeps repeating variations of lines about "I pooped a..." DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Most everything that occurs here is played for laughs and not meant to be taken seriously. All of the men at the station are chauvinistic and either don't want to give Veronica a chance or come on to her sexually. A comment is made about someone being mentally retarded. Brick (who's dimwitted) complains that women's periods attract bears. One of the guys jokingly comments that Ron is sounding gay while talking about Veronica. All four of the news guys litter outside. Wes has it out for Ron and openly states that he hates him. A woman states that Brian's strong cologne smells like a diaper filled with Indian food, while another thinks it smells like (what sounded like) "Big Foot's d*ck." The next morning following spending the night with Veronica, Ron loudly states to the guys, "We had sex and now we're in love." Brian states that he had a night of passion with a woman who was Brazilian, Chinese, "or something weird." A person tells another, "Sounds like you have mental problems, man." While on TV, Ron blurts out that Veronica is "quite the handful in the bedroom." One of the guys refers to Veronica as Ron's "bimbo gal-pal" and he and the others are upset with Ron for spending so much time with her rather than them. Some viewers might not like a comedy sequence about a man being so mad at Ron that he grabs his dog and punts it off a bridge (the dog is later seen okay). Champ is mean to Veronica and he and Brian try to distract her when she makes her debut as the anchor. We then see Brian in just his underwear with Champ pointing to Brian's crotch. Ron admits that he thought Veronica's dreams of being an anchor were a joke and is mad that she took his place. He then says or calls her various disparaging terms. Ron says that he's going to punch Veronica in the ovaries. Veronica tells Ron that jazz flute is for little fairy boys. Ron bribes the TV news announcer to announce Veronica as "T*ts McKee." A guy says that Veronica is just a woman with a small brain. Veronica changes Ron's script on the teleprompter, knowing that he'll read "Go f*ck yourselves, San Diego" without even thinking about it. As a Latino man speaks English, Ron can't understand him and says that he doesn't speak Spanish (said in an oblivious sort of way). A rival anchor pushes Veronica over a wall and down into a zoo's bear pit. A news person states that God doesn't want Veronica to live (as Ron tries to decide whether to save her from a bear pit or do a big news story). We hear that a news crew guy sexually harassed a former pro football player on a TV show. A dig is made at the Bush administration by saying that a dim guy became a top advisor to them (some viewers might not like that). FRIGHTENING SCENES Ron jumps down into a bear bit where Veronica is trying to remain quiet around some sleeping bears. They eventually wake up and menacingly approach the two, but the rest of Ron's old news crew jumps into the pit and gets into fights with the bears (both punching each other and one bear shaking a guy around like a rag doll -- all played for comedy). GUNS/WEAPONS Brian holds a handgun. Ron states that the only way to "bag" Veronica is with two tickets to the gun show, but he's referring to showing off his biceps (that he calls guns). Ron and his team prepare to rumble with other middle-aged news crews. Among the various weapons all of them hold are a switchblade, pistol, grenade, club, trident and more. Ed is on the phone, talking to his son and telling him to put down the gun. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Go f*ck yourselves, San Diego," "I'm getting too old for this sh*t," "Let's dance, d*ckweed," "Was the balls," "I look like hell," "Shut the hell up," "By the beard of Zeus," "What in the hell /is diversity/is wrong with you?" "It's bullcrap," "Grab-assing," "Like some school boy bitch," "Grade A baloney," "Let's see if we can make this kitty purr," "Hey, sweet cheeks," "Turd," "She's a real ball-buster," "You're pathetic," "Panda jerk," "Friggin,'" "Shut up," "Bimbo gal-pal," "Chick," "Before I stomp your goofy ass," "Where the hell is he?" "Sweetheart," "Missy," "I nailed it," "You scorpion woman," "You're a real hooker," "You have man boobs," "You have a dirty, whorish mouth," "Jazz flute is for little fairy boys," "Knocked up," "Son of a bee sting," "Jeez," "You dirt bags," "Kick some ass," "Bitches" (men), "Straight up murder your ass," "You're a big fat joke," "You're a smelly pirate hooker," "Go back to your home on whore island," "Ass is grass," "Great Odin's raven," "Poop mouth," "It's so damn hot," "Nut job," "You bitch" and "You're a dirty bitch." All of the men at the station are chauvinistic and either don't want to give Veronica a chance or come on to her sexually. Various characters make various disparaging/put-down remarks toward others in several scenes. Ron yells out "Cannonball!" as he does that maneuver off a diving board into a pool. All four of the news guys litter outside. A woman states that Brian's strong cologne smells like a diaper filled with Indian food, while another thinks it smells like (what sounded like) "Big Foot's d*ck." Ron states that the only way to "bag" Veronica is with two tickets to the gun show, but he's referring to showing off his biceps (that he calls guns). Ron sucks some liquor from a glass through his jazz flute and then blows it from the instrument over a flame, causing a flamethrower effect. He then walks across tables in a restaurant, stomping down on and breaking various beverage glasses. A man is so mad at Ron that he grabs his dog and punts it off a bridge (the dog is later seen okay). Ron calls Veronica with a crank call and says that her pregnancy report shows that she got "knocked up." Ron lets milk that he's drinking run down through his scraggly beard. Ron makes various raspberry/farting sounds with his mouth. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A mild amount of comedy-based suspense music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) Ron and his 3 male coworkers sing lyrics from the song, "Afternoon Delight" (that uses that double entendre and some uses of the term "making love"). Ron briefly sings some lyrics from "Afternoon Delight" again. PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word, 1 "s" word, 4 slang terms for sex ("screwing," "do me" and "bag"), 2 slang terms using male genitals ("d*ck"), 5 for breasts ("t*ts" and variations of "boob"), 9 damns, 9 hells, 5 asses, 1 crap, 1 S.O.B. (with another incomplete one), 5 uses of "Oh my God," 3 of "G-damn," 2 of "God" and 1 use of "Jesus." SEX/NUDITY Ron tells an unseen woman that she looks good and that maybe she shouldn't wear a bra next time. We see Ron in a small bathing suit at a pool party where some miscellaneous women are seen in small bikinis (that show a little cleavage). Brian tells some women that he's nicknamed his penis and testicles and that if they play their cards right, they might get to meet all of them. A woman at a party tells Ron that she has a big story for him and then says "It's right here" as she points to her clothed breast. He then comments on her pointing out her "boobies." That woman or another then wants to leave the party with him. Ron tells Veronica that she has a breathtaking heinie, that it's good and that he wants to get close to it. She's not impressed by him, especially when he blurts out, "I want to be on you." Champ states that Veronica has a nice behind and that he'd like to put some barbeque sauce on it. He then makes various exaggerated faces and dog noises while acting as if he's behind her having sex. He later states that her behind is driving him loco. One of the guys says something about him being aroused. We hear Ed talking on the phone about his son having German pornography. He then tells the person on the other side that they've both seen their share of pornography, but he then realizes that the nun he's talking to has not. Champ leans across Veronica acting as if he's reaching for some pencils, but she knows what he's doing and states that he's trying to touch her breasts. He then says that he likes the way she's put together and asks if she'd like to go out for some chicken and sex. She then hits him in the crotch, doubling him over in pain. Brick approaches Veronica, bumbling his question about a pants dance. She then figures out what he's talking about (a party in his pants and that she's invited) and that someone else put him up to it. He then asks a male coworker if he wants to party in his pants. Brian puts on what's called sex panther cologne and states that it's the smell of passion (but others are disgusted by the smell). A woman states that Brian's strong cologne smells like (what sounded like) "Big Foot's d*ck." Ron states that the only way to "bag" Veronica is with two tickets to the gun show, but he's referring to showing off his biceps (that he calls guns). We then see Ron doing some shirtless bicep curls. Veronica uncomfortably points out that Ron has a "massive erection" in his pants. We then see several views of that extremely noticeable condition (played for comedy) and he tries to brush it off as an optical illusion created by his pants. Ron tells Veronica that San Diego means "whale's vagina" in German. Ron comments on some music as "baby making" music. After some drinking and despite Veronica's reluctance to be on a date with him, Ron says that what if tonight she's just a woman and he's just a man. The two then do some passionate kissing while clothed and standing in a restaurant and then back in one of their bedrooms. He states, "I'm storming your castle on my steed" and the two then lie on the bed with more kissing. She then tells him to take her to pleasure town and we then see an animated clip with live action versions of them in it, with both riding horses (he on a unicorn). They spot a rainbow and she passionately says, "Do me on it." All of this is a comedy representation of sex (although we don't see any such activity) and we next see them in bed post-sex (she in a nightgown, he's shirtless and she states, "Well done, sir" and he calls her his wild love tigress). The next day and at work, Ron loudly states to the guys, "We had sex and now we're in love." One of the guys wants to know what it's like and Ron states that the intimate times are out of sight. Brian states that he had a night of passion with a woman who was Brazilian, Chinese, "or something weird." Ron and his 3 male coworkers sing lyrics from the song, "Afternoon Delight" (that uses that double entendre and some uses of the term "making love"). While on TV, Ron blurts out that Veronica is "quite the handful in the bedroom." Champ appears to have gay feelings toward Ron as he states that he misses his scent and musk, and that the two should get an apartment together. After the guys don't want to let her anchor the news, Veronica asks if it's because she has breasts (and then adds "exquisite breasts"). She then states that the three things she's good at are fighting, "screwing" and reading the news and that she's already done one, telling them to guess which she'll do next. One of the guys then asks, "Screwing?" Champ is mean to Veronica and he and Brian try to distract her when she makes her debut as the anchor. We then see Brian in just his underwear with Champ pointing to Brian's crotch. Ron says that he's going to punch Veronica in the ovaries and calls that her baby maker. Ron bribes the TV news announcer to announce Veronica as "T*ts McKee." Ron calls Veronica with a crank call and says that her pregnancy report shows that she got "knocked up." Wes mockingly asks if Veronica rubs Vaseline all over Ron's heinie. Ron refers to Veronica as the woman with whom he used to have familiar relations. We hear that a news crew guy sexually harassed a former pro football player on a TV show. We hear that a person became involved in a reality TV show called "Intercourse Island." During the outtakes, we see Brian and Champ again trying to distract Veronica that includes them doing some mock sexual movements, one with his pants down and some licking of another's face occurs. SMOKING Ron, Veronica and Brian each smoke at least 5 times (Ron once with a pipe), Wes smokes twice, Ed smokes a cigar once and various miscellaneous characters smoke (one with a pipe) in several scenes. TENSE FAMILY SCENES None. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Male attitudes toward women in the 1970s and how or whether they've changed since then. TV news personalities and news reporting. Following your dream despite obstacles in your way. VIOLENCE Much of the following is played in an exaggerated comedy style. Wes punches his own news van in anger. Champ leans across Veronica acting as if he's reaching for some pencils, but she knows he's trying to touch her breasts. She then hits him in the crotch, doubling him over in pain. While playing the jazz flute, Ron walks across tables in a restaurant, stomping down on and breaking various beverage glasses. Ron throws a burrito out his window while driving. It hits a motorcyclist who then wipes out and crashes on the highway. That motorcyclist then confronts Ron, grabs his dog and then puts him off a bridge (we see the obviously fake dog flying over the bridge and much later see that the dog is alive and okay). Veronica slaps Ed on the face and pushes another guy backwards by his face. While running down the sidewalk in a panic, Ron knocks a man to the ground. Ron and his team prepare to rumble with other middle-aged news crews. Among the various weapons all of them hold are a switchblade, pistol, grenade, club and more. The various groups then clash (in a comedy way), with punching and hitting. One person is thrown through the air and crashes onto a windshield, while another person is on fire and another person is caught in a net and dragged away. During this, Brick stabs and reportedly kills a man with a trident, another man has his arm cut off (we see the bloody, fake-looking stump) and another anchor stabs Ron in the shoulder, but he elbows him away. Ron throws Veronica over an office desk. In turn, she hits him on the head with a large electric typewriter and then sprays Mace (or something similar) into his face after struggling with him on the ground. She then breaks off a TV antenna and repeatedly whacks him with that, while he tries to spray the Mace at her, but accidentally shoots it back into his face. She then hits him again with the antenna. A guy throws something at Ron, hitting him with it. A rival anchor pushes Veronica over a wall and down into a zoo's bear pit. Ron jumps down into a bear bit where Veronica is trying to remain quiet around the sleeping bears. They eventually wake up and menacingly approach the two, but the rest of Ron's old news crew jumps into the pit and gets into fights with the bears (both punching each other and one bear shaking a guy around like a rag doll -- all played for comedy). A bear tears off a man's arm (no blood, and played for comedy). Reviewed July 6, 2004 / Posted July 9, 2004