Director: Adam McKay
Format: Blu-Ray
Special Features: interviews, gag reel, deleted and extended scenes, mock commercials, mock public service announcements, bonus race footage, etc.
Starring: Will Farrell, John C. Reilly, Gary Cole, Jane Lynch, Sacha Baron Cohen
I’m picky when it comes to comedy. I always describe myself as a “Marx Brothers” as opposed to a “Three Stooges”. So, when the latest comic trailer whizzes across the screen, I rarely take notice. However, I’ve heard so much about Talladega Nights that I figured it was about time to take the plunge and see what all the hype was about.
Born in the backseat of a speeding muscle car, Ricky Bobby (Farrell) has always had an addiction to acceleration. One day, while working with a Nascar pit crew, Ricky gets his big break. After the team’s apathetic driver stops in the middle of a race to get a bite to eat, Ricky is chosen to take the wheel and pulls off an amazing finish. From that point on, his career skyrockets. Soon, he finds himself with a gold-digging wife, two kids, a mansion and an inflated ego. But, the team’s manager has it in for Ricky and hires a new driver from France to compete. Jean Girard (Cohen) is not only French, but sharply dressed, suave and gay. After Bobby’s first loss to the newcomer, his life quickly races downhill. But nothing can keep Ricky Bobby down for long because, “If you’re not first, you’re last.”
The cinematography in Talladega Nights is not the first thing about the movie that most people would examine. However, there are some terrific shots in the film. One in particular that caught my attention was a smooth shot following a speeding racecar, moving in through the rear window, through the car and out through the windshield to face the front of the vehicle. Computer aided or otherwise, it was cleverly executed.
Will Ferrell has never been one of my favorite actors, however prolific he has been lately. I am starting to appreciate that he’s a better actor than I first believed though. Ricky Bobby was a definite improvement over Anchorman. There are a few subtleties in his acting style that are the key to his success as a comedic talent and if you’re not paying attention, they’re easy to miss. The character’s sidekick, Cal Naughton, Jr. (Reilly) is a great foil for Ferrell. No matter how dumb Ricky Bobby seems, Naughton is always one step behind him. At one point, two become rivals and one scene in which Naughton casually phones Bobby, after stealing his wife, home and career from him, is greatly amusing. While I may have disliked his movie Borat, Sasha Cohen is much more amusing as the French racer, bent on fighting Ricky Bobby to the finish. His accent is completely over the top. Watching him sip espresso and read fine literature behind the wheel gave me a few giggles. But, the funniest scene by far involved Ricky’s father and a cougar had me in stitches. The two Bobby children, Walker (Houston Tumlin) and Texas Ranger (Grayson Russell) are fantastic and Molly Shannon as Mr. Dennit’s alcoholic wife just killed me.
Talladega Nights is clearly a parody of the stereotypical redneck Nascar fan, but doesn’t go so far overboard as to alienate the very people it pokes fun at. While not cramp-in-the-sides hilarious, this movie had a few good laughs and a decent amount of excitement. There is only one point at which the movie lags, but for the most part, the plot moves along at a steady pace. All of the actors do a fine job. I recommend The Ballad of Ricky Bobby as an accompaniment to a pizza, I case of brew and good company.
Overall Rating: 2 ½ stars.
Hottie Rating: 0
Alternate viewing: Swingers
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IMDB site
Salon.com review
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