"It’s the Spider-Man 2 of News Anchor Movies…This tastes like an expensive six-pack. It doesn’t serve the cheap punch that Pabst Blue Ribbon might. It’s an upper shelf brand. But, hey…In the end, it’s still just beer. Tasty, delicious beer."
A few months ago, I went about trying to coin a phrase. It hasn’t caught on, but it should. Why? Because everyone is so quick to label things in our current socioeconomic climate, and this Maitreyaplex phenomenon is growing out of control. Its comedic punch swings like a lizard’s fist. The Six-Pack. That’s what I like to call them, and if you hear anyone else referring to them as that, just know you heard it here first.
What is, or who are, the Six-Pack? It’s this tight-knit group of comedic actors that have sunk a firm finger-grip into the movie going populace. They are as admired and worshipped today as the Original Rat Pack were back in their heyday. Their current double-back slap of Dodge Ball and Anchorman should cement their status as glorified box office Stallions. The two are base level concepts that would have sunk below the sea level of stupidity in anyone else’s hands. But our guys treat the material like flavored, Pulitzer Prize winning prose. Each member of this apolitical party is accounted for; interwoven through both projects with a switch-hand. A lead Sixer, or two, holds court while the rest of the group kicks forth and crop-dusts the proceedings accordingly…
Let me take you back a reviewer or two ago. I first made light of the Six-Pack in my ELF write-up. Here is what I wrote, to give you a better idea of what I’m talking about:
“Every new decade sees another ragtag team of favorites stuck together and bonded like a team. It’s the Justice League of America, Hollywood style. Each media outlet is usually quick to slap some nickname upon their vestibule, hailing them as kings of the scene. I’m surprised they haven’t jumped on this innovative group that’s gleefully trudging past the more popular Clooney-Pit headed “New Rat Pack”.
F*ck the Rat Pack, the Brat Pack, the New Rat Pack, the Black Pack, the Whack Pack, and the Splat Pack (no wait, I actually like that last one). They’re traitorous, scumbag bean counters that, more times than most, bestow us with steaming piles of loose dooket, tack wall crap, almost every time out of the gate. Their cinematic Puppy Chow is indistinguishable from one blown project to the next. Well, there’s another super group in town. Their dregs seldom disappoint, and they’re constantly flinging interesting projectiles despite face value. I’d like to be the first to call them out as “The Six-Pack.” Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Will Ferrell, The Wilson Brothers, Ben Stiller, and The D. (as in Tenacious; i.e. Jack Black & Kyle Glass) are always constantly working together in some various form, and they’ve recently really begin to hit their stride. Especially with Old School and School of Rock. They seem to exceed their perceived potential with every new lasting endeavor tossed our way. This united panel holds true to one element left out by those other “packs” as of late: FUN. The “Six-Pack” abides by a strict aluminum can esthetic. And it should be no surprise that they are all inclusive as any party should be.”
See? That’s what I’m talking about. And you know it’s true. This year alone, it seems like the only movies that have taxed our expendable income have starred Ben Stiller and any namable member of the S.P. Yeah, not to give anything away, but he’s accounted for here, in Anchorman, as well. The entire Six-Pack is, give or take a Wilson Brother or two (we’ve got Luke, but no Owen). There are also lot of side faucets to this enterprise. Starring alongside Will Ferrell are three members of the extendable refrigerator twelve-pack: Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and David Koechner. Other Twelve-Pack nominees include David Cross, Bob Odenkirk, and Andy Richter (a shock not to see Richter here, he must have been busy with his 82 other cameo appearances.)
The good news is: They get it done once again. They shovel the sh*t out of this viable playground and hit plooms of valuable dust. This is a keeper. A lasting endeavor in the pre-Blue Ray Age. It does for News Casting what Caddy Shack did for golf. Anyone that likes a funny movie will surely toss this capricious treat on the pyre that is their soon-to-be outdated DVD collection. The Legend of Ron Burgundy is a well-timed Digital Injection in the waiting wings of consumerism.
I’ll call it out now, so you don’t have to: Anchorman, it’s a classic.
The best thing I can say about the inspired piece is that it’s a straight up work of ensemble genius. Will Ferrell may clock in as the star, but rest assured, the other three members of his News Team carry the weight of the movie. The World is theirs. This heavy-hitting swing-partnership is golden. Ferrell doesn’t step on his own feet. He offers the screen up generously, and that’s mainly why this works. Dave Koechner is kicked a lot of screen time, which he rightly deserves. He’s one of the funniest Improve Comics working the circuit today. There’s only a few moments were he, along with a brilliantly-stupid Steve Carell (after his ritualistic art-giving on The Daily Show, and his turn as ass-caster in Bruce Almighty, I didn’t think Carell could hit a wide, original stride, but he’s found a so-called “retarded” character here that’s near close to ingenious and different from the other news hounds he’s played thus far), and a surprisingly riotous Paul Rudd are absent. They’re a group pitched at us with perfection. They do something odd. They give us original wit. Dare I say; it’s refreshing and innovative? Sure, there have been News Room films before, but not quite like this.
When was the last time you saw a Weatherman wrestle a Grizzly Bear? Or an ol’ timey alley fight amongst competing news teams? Likely, never…
There’s never been a girl member of the Six Pack. Sarah Silverman comes close, but she’s never been given anything close to resembling a leading role. Christina Applegate does fine work here. I’m in love with the girl. She’s always funny, and capable of intelligent wit. Her character, Veronica Corningstone, arrives off base. She’s out of touch, always trying to get her foot in the door. Applegate plays this quick and awesome. Her character serves as a kind of metaphor for the whole Six-Pack esthetic. Can a woman survive in this caged environment? She succeeds in the movie, and in acting the part. But for how long? And at what cost? The Six-Pack isn’t as cohesive with a strong female present amongst them. Not even Christine Taylor can crack their time capsule. That’s sort of the angle Christina’s Veronica takes with the news team of Ferrell, Rudd, Koechner, and Carell...
The Channel Four Anchors really represent this whole comedic group of talented fellows. They’re just out for a good time party. And it’s the female lead that looks to threaten that cohesive, beer-guzzling environment…
Sure, Applegate’s Veronica Corningstone thrusts the Femi-Nazi movement forward. But at the same time, she takes a bit of that aluminum shine off the whole “Six-Pack” vibe.
I’m sitting here, trying to think...Does Anchorman work in perpetuating Feminism and that sting to the ears expression “Girl Power”? On one hand, it does. But God, being a male chauvinist pig looks like a lot of fun. The movie, itself, portrays that certain lifestyle with a gleam in its eye. This macho type of flexing looks like a blast to partake in. And the film never really argues against it. I want to do what they’re doing. I want to act like they are. Because of people like Corningstone and her ilk, I can’t.
Anchorman doesn’t blow any type of stated message out of the water. It makes a pretty good case for the Male Party Esthetic. Yet, it also tries, really hard, to support Women in the work place. It uses that notion as its counterbalance. Ron Burgundy brings Feminism and Chauvinism together and tries to iron it out as a cohesive element. It’s a whole new genre of filmmaking. Call it: Chau-femin-estique.
What we have here is a colliding message. It’s hurting my head to think about it. See, I’m thinking again. Anchorman has my wheels turning…Damn it. Not only is this thing dumb comedy, its incredibly smart dumb comedy.
If you like watching geniuses in their prime, or you like your humor on the unpredictable side, kick yourself into this seat before you melt. It’s the sweet taste. A great summer concoction that you’ll be hard pressed to argue with. Its main purpose in life is to make you laugh.
I laughed. You will too. That’s the B. Alan Promise…
“Um, Orange?”
Hey, Webmaster B., longtime no see. What’s up, good buddy, ol’ pal?
“First off, you shouldn’t be making promises you can’t keep. While I haven’t seen the movie, I know you and your sense of humor. It’s a little off base. Not many people find the same things funny that you do.”
But I have a right to my own opinion.
“Which we give you. But your opinion shouldn’t include the word promise.”
But I…
“Secondly, the so-called Media Outlets have already beat you to the punch. They labeled this “core group of comedic actors”, as you like to call them, the Frat Pack about a hundred years ago. Sorry, but your little Six-Pack thing isn’t going to catch on.”
Oh. I didn’t realize.
“You’re not as clever as you like to pretend. I mean, The Six-Pack? Nice try, but there’s more than six of them. The Frat Pack has a much nicer ring to it. Don’tcha think?”
I guess so. What are you trying to say?
“I just wanted to clue you in on how stupid you truly are sometimes.”
Thanks.
“Not a problem. So, Do you think I’ll like the movie?”
Probably. But you, yourself, have some pretty odd tastes. I still don’t get the whole Very Bad Things thing. You actually thought that film was funny?
“Hey, f*ck you.”
No, why don’t you go f*ck yourself?
“Ah!! Ah-ha…Just for that, I’m going to make you watch Sleepover!”
Nooooooo……………………….
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