--- title: "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy" critics_score: 67 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004): what the critics said Critics' score 67 from 9 reviews: 6 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics find Anchorman an uneven but rewarding comedy, with praise centred on Will Ferrell’s commitment to Ron Burgundy’s vanity and obliviousness. The reviews favour its absurd dialogue, rapid-fire gags and willingness to pursue a joke beyond ordinary sense. Several also credit the supporting cast, particularly Carell and Applegate, with keeping the silliness lively. For its admirers, the loose sketch-comedy structure gives the performers room to be funny, even when the story offers little support. Reservations cluster around that same looseness: the plotting wanders, the humour misses as often as it lands for some, and the satire of 1970s attitudes feels underdeveloped. The Guardian sees an unfinished script and missed opportunities in the gender-politics premise. The spread is broad rather than unanimous, with Eye for Film the sharpest dissenter, finding Ferrell largely unwatchable and the crude, sexist gags unrewarding. Even the warmer reviews acknowledge weak stretches or self-indulgence. ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 July 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. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy-1798199823) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2004. 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. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 6 May 2004. 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. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy/) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 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. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/anchorman-legend-ron-burgundy-review/) ## The Times — John McNamara Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2004. 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. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy-12a-j6tzt9709xq) ## Time Out — Anna Smith Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. 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. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy) ## Radio Times — Adam Smith Rating 3/5. 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. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-it2glr/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2004. 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. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/sep/09/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy) ## Los Angeles Times — Robert Lloyd 8 July 2004. 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. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jul-08-wk-movie8-story.html) ## The New York Times — A. O. Scott 9 July 2004. 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. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/09/movies/film-review-when-the-hair-made-the-man.html) ## Variety — Brian Lowry 29 June 2004. 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. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy-1200532507/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2004. 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. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/anchorman-the-legend-of-ron-burgundy.md