Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Directed by Adam McKay

(PG-13)

***

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“A Christmas miracle? I wouldn’t go that far,” said David Edelstein in New York magazine. But it qualifies as happy holiday news that Will Ferrell and his director “do not sully the great name of Ron Burgundy” in this comedy sequel. Once again, the series co-creators have gathered “a cast of Extreme Clowns” and “let them do their worst.” Ferrell dons his polyester suit to play pompous news anchor Burgundy, this time responding to a firing by bringing his whole on-air team along to a new gig at a fledgling 24-hour news channel. Though “mostly funny,” Anchorman 2 recycles enough jokes that it “feels more like a cash-grab,” said Robbie Collin in The Daily Telegraph (U.K.). The story also sags midway through before finding its feet again by following “a subplot so strange I half-suspect I dreamt it.” Twice during this movie, I “actually cried with laughter,” said Kate Muir in The Times (U.K.). Even with Kristen Wiig joining the great ensemble cast, there’s no mistaking who owns this picture. “As Ron, Ferrell remains as pompous, gloriously self-satisfied, and caked in tangerine foundation as ever.”