Will Power

By chicago_chris on Jul 9, 2004 5:54PM

You've been bombarded by the hilarious ads for weeks – not to mention this music video, the funniest thing anywhere for some time – but today is finally the day when you can see Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy for yourself. Yes, Chicagoist realizes that it will probably be a terrible movie, but, like Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story – another comedy with a colon and a superfluous second title – a terrible hilarious movie.

If nothing else, it will be a great showcase for its cowriter/star Will Ferrell, who can do awkward physical comedy and deliver absurd non-sequiturs – a language the Village Voice recently dubbed "Farrellspeak" – with the best of 'em. (Chicagoist hopes Will Ferrell's "I'm in a glass case of emotion!" becomes the catchphrase – see "Yeah, Baby!" – for 2004.) It even has cameos by most of Farrell's "Frat Pack" cohorts, including Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Luke Wilson and features, in small appearances, great comedy actors like Fred Armisen, Ian Roberts, Stephen Root, and Paul F. Tompkins.

Though the film is set in San Diego (pronounced, in an attempt at ill-advised hipness, "San Di-ah-go" by Burgundy) several people involved with the production have Chicago connections: director/cowriter Adam McKay (SNL's head-writer before the Tina Fey regime) and actors David Koechner, Fred Willard, and Steve Carrell are all alums of the legendary Second City comedy theater. The movie is even narrated by former Channel 2 newsman – and current A&E Investigative Reports host – Bill Kurtis. So go and laugh yourself stupid. We know you want to.