Hard to believe it's been 20 years since the release of Anchorman. The new 4k transfer is stunning, but unfortunately only applies to the theatrical version of the film.
“Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy for the first time in brilliant 4k UHD. There was a time before cable when the local anchorman reigned supreme…. Enter the hard-hitting world of 1970s local TV news, where Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) and his loyal Channel 4 News Team are San Diego’s #1 rated news source. All is well in their male-dominated world of news until beautiful, rising-star reporter Veronica Corningstone turns it all upside down. Sparks don’t just fly, they ignite an all-out war between two perfectly coiffed anchorpersons. In a job where it pays to keep a straight face, Anchorman is the comedy that makes it almost impossible to stop laughing.”
For a time, Will Ferrell was the face of comedy at the box office. In the genre, there are so many different types of comedy, but Will Ferrell was able to market his specific type, a unique type that’s simply hard to describe, but you know it when you see it. His many collaborations with director Adam McKay demonstrate both the appeal and success of both of them, with Anchroman being no exception, celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Will Ferrell’s character of Ron Burgundy has endured unlike any of his others. Still showing up on talk shows randomly to this day, the funniest thing about him is that it’s impossible to predict what he’s going to say or do. Usually the type of comedy Ferrell is known for, Burgundy seems to be the culmination of so many different types he excelled at playing previously and on SNL, the clueless, say exactly what’s on your mind with no regard to anyone type. Never in a mean-spirited way, but the type that’s so oblivious that he has kind intentions behind it all. While I generally find that type of humor to get old quick, there’s just something about Ron Burgundy that I can’t help but love, and I think he’s due at least one more film.
The cast and cameos in the film continue to make Anchorman stand out after all these years. The alley-way fight scenes with the other news teams is one of the highlights, so much so that it they went above and beyond in the sequel. The immediate news team, however, is well-rounded with the comedic styles of Paul Rudd, Steve Carrell and David Koechner, who bring a lot of laughs as well. Their chemistry and dynamic work extremely well, and I can’t picture anyone else playing any of the parts.
Video
Anchorman is presented in 2160p Ultra 4k High Definition Widescreen featuring HDR10 and Dolby Vision. The transfer looks exceptional, with very clear and detailed picture quality, grain in-tact, and rich, vibrant colors, which will probably be the most noticeable difference between this and the Blu-ray version. Because of the vastly different color schemes, primarily in the different clothing types of this 1970s-era story, it’s hard to ignore the added pop that this new transfer gives the film, the main benefit for those wanting an upgrade.
Note: Only the Theatrical version is 4k, the Un-rated is included on a Blu-ray disc in the set.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This track is identical to previous releases and has not been remixed for this 20th anniversary set. The mix sounds good, with a nice balance between the surrounds and front channels, with clear and concise dialogue from the center channel. This isn’t a film that would greatly benefit for the addition of a remixed Atmos track, so no real disappointment with the exclusion of such.
Special Features
This release comes with a newly designed slipcover, 2 additional Blu-ray discs, as well as a digital code for the film.
Nothing new in the extras department, which is a shame for the 20th anniversary. If you’ve owned this previously, you know what you’re going to get. This includes:
Disc 2:
- Theatrical and Extended Editions
- Commentary by Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, Lou Rawls, Andy Richter, Kyle Gass, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Christina Applegate
- Bloopers
- 36 Deleted & Extended Scenes
- “Afternoon Delight” Music Video
- ESPN SportsCenter Audition – Ron Burgundy
Disc 3:
- Intro-Commentary with Will Ferrell and Aaron Zimmerman
- Raw Footage
- “Good Takes”
- Cast Auditions
- Comedy Central – Real Comedy: Anchorman
- Table Read 6/2/03
The 20th Anniversary for Anchorman looks better than ever. My biggest complaint is the lack of Unrated Edition being included on the upgraded transfer. For a comedy film, given the choice, an Unrated Version will always be the go-to, and it’s a shame you don’t really have the option here if you’re upgrading this for the only real reason to do so – the UHD. If you’re a die-hard fan of the film and enjoy the theatrical more, then this won’t disappoint you, but not having that choice really deters me from recommended the upgrade for those that already have the Blu-ray set. This one comes out Tuesday on 4k UHD.
