Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The film delivers plentiful laughs through its committed, absurd humor and sketch-comedy style. The critic singles out Ferrell's Method-like dedication to the oblivious anchorman role and the rapid-fire gags for praise.

Ferrell delivers his best work yet as the quotable Ron Burgundy in a lean, anarchic comedy that fits his talents perfectly, despite a couple of weak links and a syrupy climax.

Anchorman is a ridiculously moronic but frequently riotous comedy that excels at illogical dialogue and inane non-sequiturs. The critic praises its madman energy and satirical take on 1970s news while noting some satire grows stale.

The film is a hit-and-miss extended sketch with inspired idiocy alongside baffling lunacy, but Ferrell carries it with a gifted supporting cast including Applegate and Carell.

Ferrell's comic skill overcomes the Alan Partridge comparisons in this fine comedy about a pompous 1970s anchorman thrown by the arrival of a female co-anchor. The overblown performance and news-team battle set-piece are highlighted as sources of fun despite unoriginal material.

The critic finds the film a flimsy sitcom propelled by absurd humour and silly gags that eventually win you over. Cameos and comic talent help it stick despite self-indulgence.

The review calls it a sporadically amusing but thoroughly dumb comedy that feels like an extended sketch. A few puerile jokes pay off thanks to cameos, but it overstays its welcome.

The critic finds Will Ferrell's performance as the vain anchorman charming enough to carry the 1970s comedy, but notes that the story wanders after setting up its gender-politics premise. Silly gags and character names are praised but the script feels unfinished, leading to a verdict of missed opportunities amid frat-pack fun.

The review sees the film as capturing how local TV news sells illusion and community over substance, praising its understanding of the medium's vapid appeal and the shift to a 'family' news team format. It singles out the parody of news team rivalries and the arrival of the female co-anchor for comment.

The critic finds the film amusing but not as uninhibited as other Ferrell vehicles, praising its cheerful dumbness and Ferrell's inventive lunacy while noting a weak satire on 1970s attitudes. It singles out the jazz flute interlude and rival news teams rumble for praise amid the silliness.

The critic calls it breezy summer fun with inspired lunacy from Ferrell and McKay, praising the spoof of 1970s local news and the topnotch cast especially Carell and Koechner. It singles out the outlandish flights of fancy like the animated dream sequence and news team melee.

The critic dismisses the film as lowbrow toilet farce in the tradition of the Farrelly brothers, finding Will Ferrell largely unwatchable amid crude, sexist gags and broad slapstick. Applegate is noted as holding her own but ultimately unable to elevate the material.