MOVIE REVIEW Comedy 'Anchorman' never gets into gear

Jack Black's bad-taste-gag cameo is the funniest.
By PHILIP WUNTCH
DALLAS MORNING NEWS
"Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" begins like a genuinely pleasurable guilty pleasure.
It cleverly establishes Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy as an egotistical male-bimbo newscaster, and for its first 15 minutes, promises to be a comedy that ridicules smugness without itself becoming smug.
But then come the remaining 80 minutes. "Anchorman" keeps re-establishing Ron's egomania with diminishing returns of cleverness. The film goes nowhere. Sure, it's got a minor plot and even a dose of historical relevance, but it never really gets into gear.
The setting
The film takes place in the early 1970s, when deep-throated men ruled the airwaves and lady correspondents were usually assigned cute-pet stories. Into this den of male chauvinism strides Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), intent on becoming one of America's first female anchors. Without a shred of credibility, Veronica succumbs to Ron's charms, and they become a couple on and off the tube.
Their professional bickering plays more like psychological Punch 'n' Judy than sophisticated Tracy and Hepburn. Some of their antics would be right at home in "Mean Girls." It doesn't take much insight for Veronica to realize that the most malicious insult she can hand Ron is to tell him that his hair looks awful.
Good and bad
The script, co-written by Ferrell and director Adam McKay, includes an occasional line of inspired lunacy. But two large set pieces don't work. An animated epilogue to Ron and Veronica's first amorous encounter is a real groaner. Marginally better is a back-alley showdown with rival newscasters, a vignette that includes cameos by Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, Ben Stiller and Tim Robbins, the latter playing a PBS newsman.
Jack Black delivers the funniest cameo as an irate junkie who perpetrates a genuinely funny bad-taste gag.
Funny bits
Among the credited stars, Ferrell polishes a series of self-serving mannerisms, while Applegate gamely tries to act like she believes in the script. Fred Willard, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and David Koechner all contribute funny bits as newsroom types.
The '70s soundtrack and artifacts, especially the big, big hair, are definite assets.
"Anchorman" is McKay's feature debut after stints as head writer and frequent director for "Saturday Night Live." It's very much the work of a first-time feature director, with camera angles suitable for the small screen and a narrative flow that might be strong enough for an "SNL" skit.
A feature film is a different matter, a sad fact that probably won't concern those who are satisfied with a few broad laughs.