ANCHORMAN (4K) Is For Superfans

ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY

20th Anniversary Edition (4K UHD)

2004 / 94 & 98 min (2 versions)

FROM PARAMOUNT

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😽

Will Ferrell’s now-classic comedy, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, has historically been well represented on home video. Some previous Blu-ray editions have been loaded with bonus material, enough to keep fans of the film entertained for hours. And because of their humorous & satiric nature, a lot of those supplements are worth revisiting.

2010’s “Rich Mahogany Edition” was especially comprehensive and included the 2004 straight-to-video feature, Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie, which was previously only available as a separate DVD. Until the 2013 sequel, this set provided all the Ron Burgundy anyone could ever want (or handle).

The inevitable 20th Anniversary Edition offers Anchorman in 4K UHD, along with the unrated extended edition, Wake Up, Ron Burgundy and the same plethora of bonus features. If you’ve never added the film to your collection, this 3-disc set is well worth the price.

When leisure suits were a superpower.

But here’s the rub (for this writer, anyway). I love 4K upgrades as much as the next cinephile, even those which simply carry over supplements from older home video releases. Sometimes you just gotta have best video/audio quality possible. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean every movie is made better with a technical upgrade. 

With a doubt, the 4K upgrade of Anchorman is an improvement over the various Blu-ray releases (though the audio mix is essentially the same). But basically being a dialogue & gag-driven comedy, it's not some kind of technical cinematic achievement. There’s no aspect of the film that significantly benefits from a 4K transfer. I realize I might be in the minority on this, but Anchorman already looks and sounds good enough on Blu-ray.

Still, I’m sure there are those out there who need this one, either because they’re superfans or are in the midst of upgrading their entire collection to 4K. And they won’t be disappointed. For everyone else, some previous Blu-ray editions have the same bonus features at a fraction of the price.

EXTRA KIBBLES

THEATRICAL VERSION (4K & Blu-ray) and UNRATED VERSION (Blu-ray only)

WAKE UP, RON BURGUNDY: THE LOST MOVIE - First released direct-to-video, this is a feature length compilation of scenes that didn’t make the final cut of the original film, tied together with narration. There’s also a 13 minute intro-commentary by Will Ferrell and Aaron Zimmerman. If you enjoy leftovers… 

AUDIO COMMENTARY (sort of) - By writer/director Adam McKay, actor/writer Will Ferrell, actors Paul Rudd, Christina Applegate, David Koechner, musicians Lou Rawls & Kyle Gass, Andy Richter. This is played more for laughs than providing info, but it’s sometimes entertaining.

MUSIC VIDEO - “Afternoon Delight”

36 DELETED/EXTENDED SCENES

BLOOPERS

ESPN SPORTSCENTER AUDITION 

“GOOD TAKES” - Alternate improvisations from various scenes.

PSA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMC LOEWS & EMMY AWARDS SPEECH - Various gags featuring Ferrell in-character. 

MTV MUSIC AWARDS INTERVIEWS

SPECIALS - Cinemax: The Making of Anchorman; Reel Comedy: Anchorman; A Conversation with Ron Burgundy.

CAST AUDITIONS

CAST TABLE READS

REHEARSAL FOOTAGE

PLAYBACK VIDEO

TRAILERS

DIGITAL COPY