It's the Pleats.
March 29, 2012 11:32 AM   Subscribe

Ron Burgundy will return to the big screen. During Conan O'Brien's show on Wednesday night, Will Ferrell announced in character that a sequel to Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is happening.

Anchorman was originally released in 2004. Despite some meh reviews, the movie has garnered somewhat of a cult following (sample), and Ferrell's iconic character was named one of the greatest movie characters of all time by Entertainment Weekly and Empire Magazine. Discussions of filming a sequel to the eminently quotable movie had been long in the works before Paramount axed it, sort of. But it is now officially returning, along with director Adam McKay.

Original trailer.
Anchorman Gangs of New York scene.
Singing Afternoon Delight.
Anchorman animated gifs.
Other reasons to love Anchorman.

Stay classy, Metafilter.

And thanks for stopping by.
posted by jabberjaw (86 comments total) 11 users marked this as a favorite
 
I didn't actually see Anchorman until last year, I had assumed that it wasn't funny because it, like Borat, was verrrrrrry quickly overquoted by all the frat bro types. Nope! Hilarious. Borat, on the other hand...
posted by troika at 11:36 AM on March 29, 2012 [4 favorites]


"Anchorman" is the most oft-quoted movie in my day-to-day life, unseating the film that had long held that position prior, "Raising Arizona." I am beyond excited about this.
posted by jbickers at 11:37 AM on March 29, 2012


Anchorman 2: Return to Whore Island
posted by Rangeboy at 11:38 AM on March 29, 2012 [10 favorites]


For the most part I maintain that I find Will Ferrell vastly overrated and unfunny. Anchorman somehow manages to transcend that, though. A lot of that credit goes to my lovely and talented imaginary girlfriend Christina Applegate.
posted by elizardbits at 11:40 AM on March 29, 2012 [7 favorites]


Isn't there some way we can nominate Will Ferrell for the first manned, one-way mission to Mars?
posted by dunkadunc at 11:40 AM on March 29, 2012 [3 favorites]


I'm surprised that this popular movie featuring a well known actor got a sequel. That was a surprise move on Hollywood's part.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 11:42 AM on March 29, 2012 [18 favorites]


A somewhat serious question: Has there ever been an oddball stand-alone comedy of this sort, the cult-favourite oft-quoted kind, whose cash-grab let's-bottle-lightning-twice sequel hasn't sucked?

There's only one right answer to this question, of course: Is it Ghostbusters 2?
posted by gompa at 11:48 AM on March 29, 2012 [2 favorites]


Bulgaroktonos: "I'm surprised that this popular movie featuring a well known actor got a sequel. That was a surprise move on Hollywood's part."

Sure, but according to Wikipedia,

"On March 23, 2010, Ferrell said it was unlikely that a sequel would be made, telling Zoo Magazine that getting the cast together would be too difficult. The following month, McKay said the studio had turned down a proposal for a sequel, even after McKay had told them Ferrell, Carell and Rudd would take pay cuts.
...
On May 3, 2011, Ferrell publicly stated that Paramount, which owns the rights to Anchorman, had nixed the idea of a sequel, stating "We've run the numbers and it's not a good fit." "

So it hasn't always been a done deal.
posted by Petrot at 11:48 AM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


Stay classy, Metafilter.

And thanks for stopping by.


But mostly stay classy.
posted by Edison Carter at 11:49 AM on March 29, 2012 [3 favorites]


I LOVE LAMP.
posted by padraigin at 11:53 AM on March 29, 2012 [5 favorites]


Stay classy, Metafilter.
Go fuck yourself, Metafilter!
posted by prinado at 11:55 AM on March 29, 2012 [8 favorites]


A somewhat serious question: Has there ever been an oddball stand-alone comedy of this sort, the cult-favourite oft-quoted kind, whose cash-grab let's-bottle-lightning-twice sequel hasn't sucked?

But this sequel's got chunks of real panther in it, so you know it's good.
posted by Navelgazer at 11:57 AM on March 29, 2012 [3 favorites]


I feel great shame that I am more excited about this news than I am about the Nelson Mandela Digital Archive post earlier today. I really need to reevaluate my priorities.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 11:59 AM on March 29, 2012 [3 favorites]


I didn't actually see Anchorman until last year, I had assumed that it wasn't funny because it, like Borat, was verrrrrrry quickly overquoted by all the frat bro types....
posted by troika at 11:36 AM on March 29 [+] [!]

...

"Anchorman" is the most oft-quoted movie in my day-to-day life....
posted by jbickers at 11:37 AM on March 29 [+] [!]


Heh, heh, heh.
posted by gurple at 12:04 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


A somewhat serious question: Has there ever been an oddball stand-alone comedy of this sort, the cult-favourite oft-quoted kind, whose cash-grab let's-bottle-lightning-twice sequel hasn't sucked?

Better off Dead.

Real Genius.

Talladega Nights.
posted by teleri025 at 12:05 PM on March 29, 2012


Oh wait, I misread the question. I thought you were asking for odd ball comedies that didn't get sequels.

Urr...ones that got sequels and didn't suck...I got nothing for you there.
posted by teleri025 at 12:06 PM on March 29, 2012


So conflicted. I loved the first one, but working in local TV news has nearly drained my desire to ever see it again, because it's quoted so. damn. incessantly. in the newsroom.
posted by jason_steakums at 12:06 PM on March 29, 2012


I hated Anchorman. Best scenes were in the trailer.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 12:11 PM on March 29, 2012


I'd like to know how someone found a TS of Anchorman and posted it on YouTube for the Gangs Of New York takeoff. I've heard of 1000 day retention rates on Usenet, but C'MON!
posted by kuanes at 12:11 PM on March 29, 2012


gompa: "Has there ever been an oddball stand-alone comedy of this sort, the cult-favourite oft-quoted kind, whose cash-grab let's-bottle-lightning-twice sequel hasn't sucked?"

Godfather 3 was much funnier than Godfather 1 and 2.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 12:14 PM on March 29, 2012 [16 favorites]


Real Genuis II: Realer Genuis
posted by burnmp3s at 12:17 PM on March 29, 2012


Fun(?) Fact, when I first heard about Baby Geniuses (that is, heard the title and nothing else) I was convinced it was a sequel to Real Genius.
posted by troika at 12:20 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


Any movie that is named after a porn star biopic, as a joke in itself, automatically scores karmic points with the comedy gods.
posted by P.o.B. at 12:21 PM on March 29, 2012


A somewhat serious question: Has there ever been an oddball stand-alone comedy of this sort, the cult-favourite oft-quoted kind, whose cash-grab let's-bottle-lightning-twice sequel hasn't sucked?

I would say European Vacation was at least almost as great as Vacation. But that's, like, the only one I can think of (the list of awful sequels, on the other hand, is shamefully long: Fletch, Caddyshack, Beverly Hills Cop, and on and on)
posted by adamms222 at 12:22 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


"now this is happening."
posted by herbplarfegan at 12:23 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


I'm much more excited about Arrested Development.
posted by clockzero at 12:25 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


A somewhat serious question: Has there ever been an oddball stand-alone comedy of this sort, the cult-favourite oft-quoted kind, whose cash-grab let's-bottle-lightning-twice sequel hasn't sucked?

The Naked Gun? I can never remember what's in which movie.
posted by dfan at 12:26 PM on March 29, 2012 [3 favorites]


Fletch, Caddyshack, Beverly Hills Cop, and on and on

Woooaaahhh, hold up there a sec. I'm not saying any of those sequels are better than the originals, but all of those sequels are not half bad. And at the risk of repeating the stupidest joke to ever hit Metafilter, Ghostbusters 2 is damn funny. Don't make me follow you around calling you Mrs. Esterhouse to prove it.
posted by P.o.B. at 12:28 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


From the sound of it, "cash-grab let's-bottle-lightning-twice" isn't really a motivator here; the studio said it would be unprofitable, and a great deal of time has passed. On the other hand, go listen to the commentary track on the Talladega Nights DVD, and try to convince yourself that these aren't a bunch of guys who would do a sequel for the sole purpose of seeing how over-the-top suck they could make it.

and I can get behind that
posted by davejay at 12:31 PM on March 29, 2012



The Naked Gun? I can never remember what's in which movie.


The Naked Gun 22 1/2 was pretty funny, maybe not up to the caliber of the first but it was fun. Heck, even 33 1/3 was pretty darn watchable, with some really funny lines.

...Actually, you know what? All of the Naked Gun movies are amazing.
posted by HostBryan at 12:33 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


A somewhat serious question: Has there ever been an oddball stand-alone comedy of this sort, the cult-favourite oft-quoted kind, whose cash-grab let's-bottle-lightning-twice sequel hasn't sucked?

Naked Gun 2 1/2 hath its charms.

Clerks II I enjoyed more than Clerks (although in both cases it was "not all that much").

The Austin Powers movies didn't have much drop off in quality, in my view.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:34 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


I didn't actually see Anchorman until last year, I had assumed that it wasn't funny because it, like Borat, was verrrrrrry quickly overquoted by all the frat bro types....
posted by troika at 11:36 AM on March 29 [+] [!]

...

"Anchorman" is the most oft-quoted movie in my day-to-day life....
posted by jbickers at 11:37 AM on March 29 [+] [!]

Heh, heh, heh.
posted by gurple at 3:04 PM on March 29 [+] [!]


DON'T ACT LIKE YOU'RE NOT IMPRESSED
posted by jbickers at 12:35 PM on March 29, 2012


Real Genuis II: Realer Genuis

2 Real 2 Genius
posted by davidjmcgee at 12:37 PM on March 29, 2012 [5 favorites]


The Austin Powers movies didn't have much drop off in quality, in my view.

Huh. In my mind, the dropoff was more steep than that hallway was narrow.
posted by davejay at 12:37 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


Anchorman was a pure fluke. Don't believe me? Hunt down the original script, with its inept-terrorists subplot featuring Chuck D, Maya Rudolph and Kevin Corrigan, almost entirely devoid of humour of any kind, that kills the rest of the film dead. Or find the DVD of Wake Up Ron Burgundy, the sort-of-a-movie assembled from the less egregious offcuts from that script. Watch it and wince.

That was the movie that was greenlit, shot, and shown to test audiences—who reacted so badly that the whole thing was taken back, rescripted, reshot and recut into the Anchorman you know.

Wake Up Ron Burgundy isn't all bad—the news-team's trek through the Hollywood Hills, during which they decide to kill and eat Brick, is pretty funny. But Anchorman wasn't a planned work of bizarre comedy genius: it was a panicked response to discovering that the movie they'd actually made was awful. You can't make a sequel to that. Well, you can, but it won't be good.
posted by Hogshead at 12:38 PM on March 29, 2012 [10 favorites]


I think the better question is why have we had such a huge drop off, in the past 10 to 30 years, of good quality comedies?
posted by P.o.B. at 12:45 PM on March 29, 2012


Won my girlfriend's heart by wearing Sex Panther cologne.
Also made her dry heave a bit, but there you go.
The scent of Indian food in a diaper isn't for everyone.
posted by THAT William Mize at 12:47 PM on March 29, 2012


Great Odin's Raven, I am looking forward to this!!
posted by fancyoats at 12:49 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


After the interview with Conan, Ron told the audience: "I immediately regret this decision."
posted by zombieflanders at 12:54 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


I can honestly say I have never looked forward to anything less than this movie, and I liked Anchorman. The vast potential to suck is so great that it outweighs any residual love I may have had for the original.

Worst. sequel. idea. ever.
posted by motown missile at 12:55 PM on March 29, 2012


I think the better question is why have we had such a huge drop off, in the past 10 to 30 years, of good quality comedies?

Because your lawn.
posted by jabberjaw at 12:57 PM on March 29, 2012 [9 favorites]


A somewhat serious question: Has there ever been an oddball stand-alone comedy of this sort, the cult-favourite oft-quoted kind, whose cash-grab let's-bottle-lightning-twice sequel hasn't sucked?

Hangover 2 wasn't bad – they played it safe formulaically, but isn't that what a cash grab is supposed to do?
posted by Shepherd at 1:06 PM on March 29, 2012


For those Mefites, probably mostly in the UK, who are exposed to the horror that is Kay Burley on Sky News, test yourself with this tricky quiz: who said this idiotic thing, fictional TV presenter in comedy film or highly-paid lead presenter on Murdoch's news channel?
posted by reynir at 1:08 PM on March 29, 2012 [3 favorites]


Clerks II I enjoyed more than Clerks (although in both cases it was "not all that much")

If you see all of Kevin Smith's movies as sequels to each other, Clerks 2 is the one that redeemed the series.
posted by roll truck roll at 1:11 PM on March 29, 2012


I hated Anchorman. Best scenes were in the trailer.

Worst. sequel. idea. ever.

I will smash your face into a car windshield, and then I will take your mother, Dorothy Mantooth, out for a nice seafood dinner AND NEVER CALL HER AGAIN!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:20 PM on March 29, 2012 [3 favorites]


Because your lawn.

Ah, yes, the volley has been returned. I shall attempt to be just as lazy in my reply:

Cite please!
posted by P.o.B. at 1:21 PM on March 29, 2012


A somewhat serious question: Has there ever been an oddball stand-alone comedy of this sort, the cult-favourite oft-quoted kind, whose cash-grab let's-bottle-lightning-twice sequel hasn't sucked?

Airplane II ?

Highlander II was way funnier than the original...
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 1:22 PM on March 29, 2012 [3 favorites]


Anchorman wasn't a planned work of bizarre comedy genius: it was a panicked response to discovering that the movie they'd actually made was awful. You can't make a sequel to that.

I completely agree with you, 100%. And that's why I am desperately looking forward to what they create, because these are smart, independently successful people, who are aware of how Anchorman was created. So in my head, I believe they have no choice but to shoot the entire original movie again, show it to test audiences, then recut it again into the sequel.
posted by davejay at 1:25 PM on March 29, 2012 [6 favorites]


on a very very very tight deadline
posted by davejay at 1:26 PM on March 29, 2012


Cite please!

I think you're looking for the landmark case You vs. Those Damn Kids These Days that overturned the Loud Hippity Hoppity Music Act from before when the rest of us were born.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:39 PM on March 29, 2012


But in your heart, you know odds are it will end up like The Hangover Part II.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:43 PM on March 29, 2012


Best comedy sequel announcement since Derek Zoolander appeared with Stefon on Weekend Update.
posted by Apocryphon at 1:48 PM on March 29, 2012


I think you're looking for the landmark case You vs. Those Damn KidsThese Days that overturned the Loud Hippity Hoppity Music Act from before when the rest of us were born.

Nah, my lawn is very accepting. Even the hippies sleep on it for early entrance to concerts.

The facts dictate my question is answerable and your argument is invalid like a penguin hat.
posted by P.o.B. at 2:08 PM on March 29, 2012


A somewhat serious question: Has there ever been an oddball stand-alone comedy of this sort, the cult-favourite oft-quoted kind, whose cash-grab let's-bottle-lightning-twice sequel hasn't sucked?

Terminator?
posted by The Bellman at 2:22 PM on March 29, 2012


Has there ever been an oddball stand-alone comedy of this sort, the cult-favourite oft-quoted kind, whose cash-grab let's-bottle-lightning-twice sequel hasn't sucked?

Sixty percent of the time it works every time.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:26 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


Seems like the best we can come up with is the Naked Gun and Airplane movies, which I'd put an asterisk on anyway as a special case.

Those Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker movies weren't one-offs that got belated sequels, they were all variations on a single theme that the ZAZ crew did better than anyone. (Hot Shots! Part Deux was the better movie in that riff on the theme, for the record.) In fact, you could argue the unnecessary, execrable mess of a sequel in this case is the Scary Movie franchise and all its adjuncts.

I'll stand by my hunch: Anchorman's a stand-alone thing. It'll be lessened by a sequel.
posted by gompa at 2:29 PM on March 29, 2012


As a San Diegan I look forward to more years of hearing "stay classy San Diego" and that San Diego means whale vagina. It was funny the first few hundred times but now it is getting old.

I liked the movie when I saw it back in the day. Some bits ran a little long but it was a good film. However I look forward to seeing it in a Redbox kiosk shortly after its theatrical release. And the heavily edited version showing up on TBS and played 12 times a day.
posted by birdherder at 2:30 PM on March 29, 2012


The facts dictate my question is answerable and your argument is invalid like a penguin hat.
P.o.B.

Well no, his answer is perfect because your question is stupid. You're asking a subjective question about a perceived drop-off in quality of comedies from the last 10-30 years. So you're asking if any good comedies have been made from 1982-present? It's kind of a ridiculous question. But to help (from Wikipedia):

Comedies of the 80s
Comedies of the 90s
Comedies of the 2000s
Comedies of the 2010s

Now that's a huge number of comedies. There are a bunch of them that many people consider excellent. The "get off my lawn" part comes in play as to whether you consider any of these excellent. You could proclaim that every movie on these lists in awful. There's really not much to argue there if you're going to take such a stance.
posted by Sangermaine at 2:45 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


The Austin Powers movies didn't have much drop off in quality, in my view.

That's because they pretty much used the exact same jokes in all 3 movies. A running gag is one thing, but they can't all be running gags. Also, Our Man Flint and In Like Flint did the same thing much better in my opinion.
posted by Hoopo at 2:55 PM on March 29, 2012


Hot Shots Part Deux was way better than the first. Although I don't know if you'd consider the first a success.
posted by lumpenprole at 3:02 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


I do have to say that I can't really watch the Naked Gun movies anymore because like a fool I went and watched Police Squad! and it is so much better and now I just want the teevee version of Frank Drebin to be in the films.
posted by shakespeherian at 3:03 PM on March 29, 2012 [4 favorites]


So you're asking if any good comedies have been made from 1982-present?

That's not what I asked at all and I wasn't clear or specific about what I was asking, so mea villas. But relax and loosen the penguin hat, it's not that important to get all het up about.
posted by P.o.B. at 3:05 PM on March 29, 2012


Or mea *culpa*, whichever works for you.
posted by P.o.B. at 3:07 PM on March 29, 2012


I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:20 PM on March 29, 2012


mea pharaoh was funnier the first time, too
posted by gnomes at 3:21 PM on March 29, 2012


"But Anchorman wasn't a planned work of bizarre comedy genius: it was a panicked response to discovering that the movie they'd actually made was awful."

Funny you mention that because I have this theory regarding the news crew battle royale.

I got the distinct feeling that they filmed the post-fight discussion before they'd filmed the actual fight. You can see them trying not to laugh when Steve Carell ad libs about the trident and the man on fire and it just makes the fight into this ridiculous hilarious thing.
posted by Start with Dessert at 3:25 PM on March 29, 2012 [3 favorites]


Or mea *culpa*, whichever works for you.

What? You know I don't speak Spanish!

What? You pooped in the refrigerator and ate the whole wheel of cheese? I'm not mad, I'm impressed!
posted by jabberjaw at 3:56 PM on March 29, 2012


I didn't think I liked Will until I saw Stranger than Fiction and tuned into Eastbound and Down - he kills it on that show. Maybe I'll watch Everything Must Go tonight - worth a viewing?
posted by porn in the woods at 4:01 PM on March 29, 2012


Time for yet another MeTa about people breezing into threads simply to declare they don't like the thing the post is about? Stay classy, indeed.
posted by mreleganza at 4:05 PM on March 29, 2012 [4 favorites]


Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy on the Conan O'Brien show is exactly the dictionary definition of a massively violent beachside tribal circle jerk, leaving all parties squeezed dry and gasping, huddled around a sputtering, spitting, foul-smelling fire. Ben Stiller crouches just outside the orange circle of firelight, digging in the piss-soaked sand and thrusting handfuls of it into his mouth and ears. The throbbing pink moon above drips a sticky tar and is in fact Adam Sandler's distended anus. Jack Black bursts from the surf, sporting a proud erection.
posted by tumid dahlia at 4:15 PM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]


Only in the Director's Cut.
posted by gnomes at 4:32 PM on March 29, 2012 [2 favorites]


What? You pooped in the refrigerator and ate the whole wheel of cheese? I'm not mad, I'm impressed!

Ah, but my MeFi mind reading skills are telling me that you're actually jealous! Plus, it was head cheese, and the fridge offers a cooling sensation that the taint rarely experiences. You may enjoy shit sandwiches, but I strive to produce only organic and locally produced!
posted by P.o.B. at 4:33 PM on March 29, 2012


When in Rome.
posted by jabberjaw at 4:42 PM on March 29, 2012


Oh, re: good comedy sequels: the Peter Sellers Pink Panther films
posted by jason_steakums at 4:46 PM on March 29, 2012


THIS. IS. ROMA tomatoes on my salad. I didn't want these!
posted by P.o.B. at 5:00 PM on March 29, 2012


What, no Steve Carrell? No Vince Vaughn?
posted by Apocryphon at 5:01 PM on March 29, 2012


I'm excited. Didn't expect a sequel simply because I loved the movie. Figured we'd get a god-awful Hangover 3 before Anchorman 2. I hope they film it on top of a mountain with flutes playing and trombones and flowers and garlands of fresh herbs.
posted by justgary at 5:02 PM on March 29, 2012


I think Christmas Vacation is the best of the whole series. Which interestingly enough, based on the source material, could possibly also be considered a sequel to 16 Candles.
posted by billyfleetwood at 7:31 PM on March 29, 2012


9 times out of 10 it's funny 80% of the time.
posted by blue_beetle at 8:35 PM on March 29, 2012


Also, Conan gave his Twitter followers a little tease before last night's show. LOOK AT THAT PERFECT ANCHORMAN SMILE.
posted by V4V at 8:46 PM on March 29, 2012


Milk Metafilter was a bad choice.
posted by Corduroy at 12:38 AM on March 30, 2012


Anchorman 2? Take me to PLEASURE TOWN!!!
posted by little mouth at 7:37 AM on March 30, 2012


Get Him to the Greek is a decent sequel, although it follows the really superb Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Mon Ocle is easily as great as Monsieur Hulot's Holiday. Better, maybe.

A Shot in the Dark is better than The Pink Panther.

Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey is sublime.

Addam's Family Values is a lunatic joy.

I prefer Christmas Vacation to Vacation.

Son of Paleface is one of the funniest films ever.

I'm going to go ahead and count Crank: High Voltage.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 9:41 AM on March 30, 2012 [1 favorite]


Apocryphon: "What, no Steve Carrell? No Vince Vaughn?"

Vince Vaughn is too busy filming a new Jason Biggs vehicle where him and Rob Schneider eat each others' faces off.
posted by dunkadunc at 11:10 AM on March 30, 2012


I was listening to Adam McKay interviewed on the radio this morning. Looks like Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Steve Carrell are all in. They just got in contact with Christina Applegate's rep., but anticipate her return as well.

Super duper! That's nice! Way to go! Neat-o, gang!
posted by jabberjaw at 12:33 PM on March 30, 2012 [1 favorite]


Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey is sublime.

I keep hearing people say this and I don't remember it that way. I'm going to have to give it another look sometime.

I love the first one more than anyone should though.
posted by Hoopo at 3:42 PM on April 3, 2012


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