Overall Rating: ****
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby @ IMDB
Summary:
Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) was born with a need for speed and a natural talent behind the wheel. With a lucky break he is flung to NASCAR greatness and quickly moves to the top. But Ricky’s dominance is challenged by a Formula-1 racer named Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), who is looking to make his mark on the sport. When a devistating crash puts Ricky in the hospital, he loses his nerves and is unable to race. With his world crumbling around him, Ricky goes back to his roots and seeks help from his dead-beat-dad (Gary Cole).
Review:
I thought this movie was hilarious! If you liked Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy, then you will love Talladega Nights. This movie continues the “American Man” series that Will Ferrell and director Adam McKay began with Anchorman. I had really high hopes for this movie and I have to say I was not dissappointed.
Now I’m going to say something that might get me in to a little bit of trouble. I personally think that Talladega Nights may have been better than Anchorman. I have a friend who’s probably cringing in his seat as he read this. But before everyone gets excited, I have to say that loved Anchorman, I own it. But I feel like I just laughed more while I was watching Talladega Nights.
The cast is spectacular. Ferrell is at his finest and John C. Reilly is perfect as Cal Naughton, Jr., Ricky Bobby’s hapless friend. Cole and Cohen rounded out this crazy comedy cast. Cole plays a wise but washed-up dad who never quite learned how to be happy. You may remember him as Bill Lumbergh from Office Space. Cohen, better known as Ali G, is spectacular. I’ve never seen The Ali G Show, but I think I may start watching.
At any rate, go see this movie. You won’t be dissappointed. Its definitely worth the ticket price (even
August 17th, 2006 at 11:27 AM
I read your review of this funny movie and there was no cringing involved =) I think this movie though similar to Anchorman (blowhard becomes underdog only to learn lesson and redeem himself), had more structure to it. The thing that I enjoyed about Anchorman and what rewards me on repeat viewings is the reckless lunacy. The plot for Ricky Bobby just harnesses that energy and somewhat reduces the entropy if you will (I’m a dork). However, I freely admit that this will probably end up being my favorite comedy of the year and much loved DVD when I do buy it.
August 17th, 2006 at 11:20 PM
I see your point about energy and entropy. Anchorman seems a little less organized and a lot more spontaneous. The News Crew gang fight, for example, was a little unexpected when I first saw it. That scene remains my favorite in the movie: “Brick, I think you killed someone with a trident…” One thing though, I feel Christina Applegate (kinda-sorta the antagonist) wasn’t as funny as Sacha Baron Cohen. In the end, we agree on an important fact, this will definitely be a DVD worth owning.