Rudds: Phil vs. Paul

I get these two mixed up.  They’re not even related to each other.

Phil Rudd.  Born in Melbourne, Australia in May 1954.  Joined AC/DC as drummer in 1974.  Seen driving a Porsche 928 in “Let There Be Rock”.   He was fired after Flick of the Switch in 1983, but came back in late 1993 in time for Ballbreaker.  He’s had to depart again due to his criminal issues in New Zealand, where he lives. 

His new solo album, Head Job, recently came out.  Not surprisingly, it sounds a bit like AC/DC, but the singer bears more in common with Lemmy (Motorhead) than Bon Scott or Brian Johnson.  It’s quality, if not particularly original or remarkable.  Depending on his legal situation, he may or may not get the chance to tour it.

During his departure from AC/DC he lived in New Zealand and kept a low profile, not professionally involved with any band.  Head Job features guitarist Geoffrey Martin and bassist/singer Allan Badger.

Paul Rudd.  Born in Passaic, New Jersey, in January 1969 – about the same age I am.  He grew up in Kansas.  His first major film role was “Clueless” (w/Alicia Silverstone) and he had a bit part on “Friends” as Phoebe’s boyfriend.  His role as Brian Fontana on “Anchorman” essentially cemented him as a mainstream actor.  Sex Panther!  “60% of the time it works every time!”   “I Love You, Man”, though, with Jason Segal, is probably my favorite role of his.  

Anchormen

As promised, here is the final piece of the Red-Ass-Burgundy Trilogy.   I imagine if Red 3, Kick-Ass 3, and Anchorman 3 are released, I could combine them all into a single blog.   Anyhow.

Anchorman.   In sunny San Diego, California, the heretofore unchallenged dominance of the alpha male news anchor, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) and his male colleagues Champ Kind (sports) (David Koechner), Brian Fontana (investigation) (Paul Rudd), and Brick Tamland (weather) (Steve Carrel) is rudely disturbed when a – gasp! – woman, Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) joins the crew and quickly challenges Ron’s place by sheer…competence.   Fun and games ensue, including, but not limited to, a conflict with rival news team led by Vince Vaughn, the Spanish language channel (Ben Stiller), and even PBS (Tim Robbins).      

    Eventually Veronica slyly rigs Ron’s abrupt departure and subsequent descent into an abyss of self-pity, but the San Diego Zoo beckons and Ron is summoned back to do what he does best – or at least in a way no one else can.   And there was much rejoicing.  Seth Rogen is here as a PBS cameraman at the zoo scene.

Anchorman 2:  The Legend Continues.   At this time, Ron and Veronica have married, moved to NYC, and have a son, Judah.  They are both anchors at the big network.  Unfortunately, the network head, Mack Tannen (Harrison Ford, in a comedy???) promotes Veronica and fires Ron.  Of course, Ron’s ego can’t handle that, so he leaves the scene for SeaWorld in San Diego – but not for long.  An eccentric Australian media mogul, Kench Allenby (Josh Lawson) taps him to start up a 24 hour news network, so Ron gathers up the former team and brings them to NYC.  By this time Veronica has remarried a stuffy, pompous psychiatrist, Gary (Greg Kinnear).   Did I mention that Ron’s superior is not only a woman, but a black woman (Megan Good)?  Or that he’s not the top anchor, but a poor relation to Rick Lime (James Marsden)?  Or that Brick gets a love interest, Chani (Kristen Wiig), who is just as charmingly stupid as he is? 

   Of course, problems occur again, along with fun and games as well, and it's a different and more wacked out array of fun and games.   Ron loses his eyesight and retreats to a lighthouse.  Yes, for real.  He regains his sight and returns to Manhattan.   Yes, for real.  And we get a final confrontation in the city between multiple news teams – including the BBC (led by Sascha Baron Cohen) and the History Channel.   Just when you think it can’t go any more over the top, it does.   

   The humor is sometimes lowbrow, but nominally so, because Ferrell and his buddies pull it off with such remarkably clever wit that you can’t help but laugh.  In fact, you’ll laugh so hard you’ll forget to be ashamed of any of it.   Enjoy it.  And let’s hope they do make a third movie, because God knows how they’ll top this one.