This just in: Burgundy a laugh riot

Will Ferrell is a comedic force to be reckoned with. He's been a source of constant hilarity for me since his first skit on "Saturday Night Live" back in 1995. "Get off the damn shed," anyone? Here, he stars as the legendary 1970s newscaster and San Diego native, Ron Burgundy, and his reputation certainly precedes him. Ferrell is one of the busiest men in Hollywood as of late, and his track record of hilarity continues with "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," a film he co-wrote with director and former "SNL" head writer, Adam McKay.\nDon't go to the theater looking for a detailed plot line and nuanced character development, although somehow I don't think these traits are going to be prerequisites for most folks anyway. The story, about the importance, self-righteousness and most importantly, male dominance of local news broadcasts in the '70s is inspired but formulaic, and the character arcs are simplistic and can be seen far in advance. Formula is not Ferrell's forte, and the more boisterous and braggadocious his portrayal of Ron Burgundy goes, the harder and more frequently the laughs come. The film truly soars when Ferrell and his castmates are let loose to their world of rapid fire randomness and belly-laugh inducing moments of emotional distress.\nI suppose what we really have here is a series of one-note jokes that add up to much more, due to the quality of the writing and dedicated nature of the cast. Scenes such as an out-of-nowhere brawl between rival local news stations, a jazz flute exhibition by Ferrell and an off-air exchange between Ferrell and Christina Applegate, in which he promises to "punch her right in the ovaries," are priceless, and better comedy than we deserve from a 90-minute gagfest.\n"Anchorman" boasts a fine supporting cast including "Married with Children" alum Applegate, "SNL" vet David Koechner, "Friends" co-star Paul Rudd, in his best role yet, and a furiously funny performance by "The Daily Show" reporter Steve Carell, who nearly outshines Ferrell line for line. As with many high-profile comedies these days and in the past, cameos run rampant in the land of "Anchorman," and while I will leave guest celebrities unnamed, each one is extremely effective and amusing.\nAll in all, "Anchorman" is a sure bet for some manic laughs, and for those who mine below the surface, a closer look into the mind of Will Ferrell, the most consistently funny comic actor of the current crop.