FlashCallahan
NASCAR stock car racer Ricky Bobby is a national hero because of his win at all costs approach. He and his loyal racing partner Cal Naughton Jr, are a fearless duo, known as "Shake" and "Bake" by their fans for their ability to finish so many races in first and second positions, with Cal always in second place. When flamboyant French Formula One driver Jean Girard challenges them for the supremacy of NASCAR, Ricky Bobby must face his own demons and fight Girard for the right to be known as racing's top driver......Here's the thing about Will Ferrell, It seems that whenever he appears in a sports based comedy, they tend to be very poor, and not very funny at all. Kicking And Screaming, Semi-Pro, Blades Of Glory were really poor comedies, and appeared to be mocking the fans of the actual sport.This is the best of a very bad bunch, but that's really faint praise, because again, it appears that McKay is doing nothing more than mocking the sports fans and the people who partake.Ferrell is fine, basically playing the king fool in a ship of fools.It's far too long, and although Cole is the best thing in the film, they really stretch out the training aspect of the film.If you like your films with foul mouthed children, idle threats to vulnerable people, and choc full of xenophobia and homophobia, be my guest. I think I laughed once, and that scene was in the trailer.
Python Hyena
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006): Dir: Adam McKay / Cast: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Gary Cole, Sacha Baron Cohen, Leslie Bibb: Another superb comedy from director Adam McKay although not the masterpiece that Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is. Title regards Ricky Bobby's carefree existence through life. He was born in a car in fast motion and grew to dominate the race tracks until an accident costs him his reputation, his wife, his best friend, and his team. Director Adam McKay is smart enough to detail the screenplay and deliver an intriguing conclusion. Will Ferrell plays Ricky whose reckless racing parallels his life. He goes through a hilarious transition believing to be paralyzed then his father re-enters his life to assist him in the predicted outcome. John C. Reilly steals scenes as his naïve best friend who goes from second place to the new husband of Bobby's wife. The result of this is twisted but somewhat endearing. Leslie Bibb plays Ricky's wife who ends up playing the field too close to home. Gary Cole is superb as Ricky's irresponsible father who goes from failure to becoming a pivotal element in his comeback. His methods are hilariously dangerous but we know where it is headed. Sacha Baron Cohen counters a standard subplot as a rival driver by swaying our concluding expectations. Funny attack on the world of Nascar. Score: 8 / 10
Michael Radny
If you love Will you will like this film. Just Will back to his crazy over-the-top acting antics again. Pretty funny film, pretty new idea and a good concept. These films get spewed out every year and some to varying success, this one scrapes in as one of the good ones, but you can't help thinking it's the same thing being rehashed. Not a serious film, not a clever film but somewhere down the line it becomes entertaining enough to warrant a decent rating on my part. Good decent film. Nothing special, watchability is strong but nothing you probably haven't seen before. Keep going with these films Will and people will keep turning up. Hopefully he doesn't slip as he has a couple of times before.
RbDeraj
This was an excellent parody of the world of NASCAR with their corporate sponsorships, endorsements, beer, and trophy wives. It also takes big blows at middle class Americans, homosexuals and has a heavy emphasis on The South. Though this is in the spirit of fun, the critiquing of beliefs is definitely shown, especially being completely irreverent and blasphemous towards religion specifically the Christian population of the United States. The acting was good for the most part, and I was especially expressed with the child actors in the film. The storyline seemed reminiscent of another Will Ferrell movie Elf, with his shaky mental state and "daddy issues." "With all due respect" it is somewhat cheesy, and some of the jokes get old like 'Shake and Bake' or are simply not funny like the scene with the long argument about crepes. It also seemed obvious even while watching all of the cutting in the film. This was definitely a negative, but overall the film was entertaining.
AD
