Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 Content: -2 1/2

The outrageous humor in this spoof on television newscasts plays like a Saturday Night Live skit. Its set in the 70s, when women were barely visible in TV newsrooms. Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), conceited and chauvinistic anchorman for the top-rated San Diego station, is threatened by the arrival of feminist Veronica Cornerstone (Christina Applegate) but assumes that he will sweep her off of her feet with his charm and good looks. Veronica quickly asserts herself and becomes the local sensation, creating a war in the newsroom as the guys behave like petulant children seeking revenge against Veronica. Another ongoing war continues as reporters from competing stations converge to report on the biggest news story of the year the birth of a panda at the zoo and a hilarious battle erupts. Anchormans humor will tickle the funny bones of adults who remember the leisure suits, big hair and white shoes of the 70s, but its definitely not appropriate for children.

Anchormans humor is often crude and mean-spirited, using sex, drunkenness and violence to provoke laughter. Ron drinks scotch all day, up until he goes on camera, and reads whatever appears on the prompter, even when Veronica edits the text to include the f-word. The weatherman (Steve Carell) makes a crude comment about womens monthly cycles. Ron and Veronica become attracted to each other and immediately have sex, with their euphoria implied through a fantasy-animated segment. To celebrate their #1 rating, the news staff celebrates by getting drunk and swimming in their underwear. References to male and female anatomy, plus evidence of Rons sexual arousal, are shocking and offensive for a PG-13 rating. In two violent confrontations among competing stations, reporters use chains, bats, knives and guns in a battle that includes a man being set on fire, another dragged by a horse and another having his arm cut off. A biker throws Rons beloved dog, Baxter, off a bridge into the bay. Bad language adds to the negative content of the film.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: DreamWorks