The Will Ferrell Comedy On Netflix Everyone Is Still Quoting Today
If you have yet to see Will Ferrell’s satirical comedy, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Netflix is giving you a fair chance to catch up on all the laughs. Ferrell is arguably one of the funniest actors on the big screen today, and his role in Anchorman definitely doesn’t fall short of his legacy.
The film stars Ferrell, but quite a few other notable names accompany him. Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, and David Koechner make up the rest of Will Ferrell’s news team as the quartet works to become the most-watched reporters on television, and Christina Applegate plays the station’s only female reporter.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy starring Will Ferrell is streaming on Netflix.
Set in the 1970s, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is a facetious take on the culture of the times, poking fun at the overt misogyny women faced in the workplace. Will Ferrell plays Ron Burgundy, the clueless lead anchorman of a fictional San Diego news station (KVWN channel 4) with a big following and an even bigger ego.
Paul Rudd plays Brian Fantana, a field reporter for the station. Steve Carrell is Brick Tamland, the station’s meteorologist, and David Koechner is Champ Kind, the station’s sportscaster. Alongside Burgundy, the team works hard to uphold its long-held status as the number-one news program in the San Diego area.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
While at a party celebrating their elite status in the news, Christina Applegate’s character (Veronica Corningstone) is introduced. After an unsuccessful pickup attempt by Burgundy, the station’s leader Ed Harken (played by Fred Willard) announces that he has been forced to hire Corningstone.
Eventually, Will Ferrell convinces Applegate to go out with him, and the date ends in the pair awkwardly hooking up. Veronica asks Burgundy to keep the affair quiet so as not to cause issues at work, but Burgundy quickly announces their union on the news for all to see. His lack of discretion makes an enemy out of Corningstone, and their rivalry grows more venomous as the film progresses.
“I’m not quite sure how to put this, but… I’m kind of a big deal. I’m very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.”
-Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy in Anchorman
When Burgundy is late for work due to a dispute with a motorcyclist, Corningstone is asked to fill in for him on air. After she receives higher ratings than Burgundy, Corningstone is promoted to co-anchor. Burgundy and his macho pals meet this decision with blatant disdain, fueling the fire between the already stressed couple, and leading to their breakup.
The battle between the two goes on leading to some pretty spectacular pranks. After finding out that Burgundy will read anything he sees on the teleprompter, Corningstone launches the ultimate sabotage of his career by rewriting the reports and inserting some pretty choice language along the way.
Will Ferrell’s character typically ends his reports with his famed tagline, “You stay classy, San Diego,” but Veronica changes the line to “Go f–k yourself, San Diego”. In true form, Burgundy reads the prompter as it is written. His vulgar adieu leads to an angry mob lining up outside of the studio, and Harken is forced to terminate Burgundy.
You’ll have to watch the film to see how the whole debacle plays out, but you can rest assured it’s worth your time. After an initial lukewarm reception by critics, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is now widely known as one of the best comedy films of its time. Bravo’s 100 Funniest Movies has the film on its list, and it is ranked number six on Time Out’s Top 100 Comedy Films of All Time.
“You know how to cut to the core of me, Baxter. You’re so wise. You’re like a miniature Buddha, covered with hair.”
-Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy in Anchorman
The hilarious script of the movie led to an array of various quotes that don’t ever seem to get old to faithful fans of the film. For instance, when Will Ferrell’s character first meets Veronica Corningstone at the party, he is quoted saying, “I’m not quite sure how to put this, but… I’m kind of a big deal. I’m very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.”
Two other pretty hilarious quotes are delivered during various conversations Burgundy has with his beloved dog, Baxter. After arriving home to a bit of a mess, Burgundy exclaims, “What? You pooped in the refrigerator? And you ate the whole wheel of cheese? How’d you do that? Heck, I’m not even mad; that’s amazing.”
When Baxter barks at him in response to Will Ferrell spilling his concerns, Burgundy is quoted saying, “You know how to cut to the core of me, Baxter. You’re so wise. You’re like a miniature Buddha, covered with hair.”
You can find Will Ferrell’s Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy streaming on Netflix with the sequel Anchorman: The Legend Continues also available on the channel. Sit down with some of your best friends today, and enjoy a few laughs with your popcorn.
