Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

**ZeoBandit** · 08.04.06, 06:59 AM

Pretty good review. I want to check out this movie sometime.

EW review: 'Talladega' is hilarious
Movie has its weak points, but Ferrell and Co. are winners
By Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly

Friday, August 4, 2006; Posted: 8:26 a.m. EDT (12:26 GMT)

(Entertainment Weekly) -- Will Ferrell has a mission, if not an obsession -- to celebrate, and satirize, the pumped-up folly of American manhood -- and he has found a customized vehicle for it in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."

As Ricky, a NASCAR racer with major daddy issues who grows up nursing one thought (''I wanna go fast''), Ferrell uses his steady-silly baby-fat gaze and impervious ego to make gleeful fun of the tacky bravado of ''outlaw'' Southern car culture.

How arrogant a yokel is Ricky? He can't stop preening about his skills (''I wake up ... and I p--- excellence!''), he's so greedy for sponsors that he plasters a Fig Newton decal on his windshield, and he turns the act of saying grace into a competitive sport.

He also won't let his best friend, the boobish rube Cal (John C. Reilly), win a single race.

"Talladega Nights" takes some very funny cheap shots, especially when Ricky faces down his new team member -- a gay, French, Camus-reading-behind-the-wheel Formula One driver played, with a leer worthy of Peter Sellers, by Sacha Baron Cohen.

A Will Ferrell blowhard must, of course, be brought down, and "Talladega Nights" grows flakier and more uneven the lower Ricky falls.

The races, however, are scorchingly shot, and they lend the movie a zest that was missing from "Anchorman," Ferrell's last collaboration with director/co-writer Adam McKay. This one scores laughs right down to its gloriously gaga climactic smooch.

EW Grade: B

**billy007** · 08.04.06, 07:36 AM

just last week mrs007 was swimming in the pool at the Hotel Roosevelt with the kid who plays "Walker" and got invited to the premier.

**map57** · 08.04.06, 08:17 AM

Don't know if it's good or not that they made movie referencing Talledega, Al.....the place where my father was born and where my grandparents grew up.

Notice it wasn't Daytona Nights....

Trailer for this movie was hillarious....check it out....

Ricky Bobby....

**kowski** · 08.04.06, 09:07 AM

I've seen the trailer for this movie - OVER and OVER, at least once on every television commercial break and before every single movie in the theater - and I wouldn't go see the movie if you paid me. It looks idiotic and over-acted (if that is even a surprise considering Will Ferrell is involved), so I will pass. If you people like it, then go for it, though.

**rchop84** · 08.04.06, 10:22 AM

I hope it's gonna be good...i'm kinda worried its not though.

The first time i saw Anchorman i was kinda, eh, now I find it hillarious. Saw a different trailer the other day and it does seem like its gonna be funny.

**Dan Halen** · 08.04.06, 12:54 PM

I can't wait to see this movie, it's going to be awesome. Just from the trailer alone I can tell there's going to be so many quotable lines. Plus Will Ferrell is just the man.

**OLO** · 08.04.06, 07:18 PM

I am a Nascar fan, I have been looking forward to this movie for a year. The previews look great.

**Mikey Metalhead** · 08.04.06, 07:40 PM

will is usualy hit or miss for me, the extended trailer looked pretty good, but I fear it is one of those movies that blew its whole wad of jokes on the trailer.

Ill go see it, just because there isnothing left at the theaters I want to see.

**racefan8** · 08.04.06, 07:47 PM

I won't be missing this. Yee haw

**smithjc** · 08.04.06, 08:23 PM

Being a Will Ferrell fan I'm definitely gonna check it out.

I hope that all of the funny stuff wasn't just in the movie trailer tho as was mentioned earlier.

**Texas Poundcake** · 08.04.06, 11:05 PM

Just saw Ricky Bobby on Larry King Live... he had his friend Carl Jr. with him. Dale Jr called in as well as several other Nascar drivers. It was too freakin funny!

**Wray** · 08.05.06, 12:03 AM

I saw the movie tonight... not as funny as I thought it would be, but it was ok.

**Elwood P.** · 08.05.06, 11:53 AM

Saw it last night, funniest damn movie I've seen in some time. I'm no NASCAR fan, I don't watch them, really have no desire to but I really dug the movie. May have to see it again, I know I missed some of the lines. Dude who played Bill Lumbergh on Office Space was great. Hilarious movie.

Cal: Should've come to our wedding. We had a Styx tribute band and a 7-cheese nacho fountain.

**MF5150** · 08.05.06, 04:06 PM

Whether you like it or not, you can not deny the fact that Will Ferrell is one of the funniest actors in Hollywood.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby does not go against this fact. Even if one hates NASCAR, and hates Will Ferrell it will be impossible for them to not chuckle while watching this film. But the funny-ness of this film can not be held as Ferrel's achievement only. The supporting cast does a great job of playing along with Ferrell's unique brand of off the cuff and hilarious sayings and phrases. It is also evident that the actors are well versed in improvisations because many of the scenes and lines are very spontaneously funny.

I won't give to much more away but this movie is definately worth going to see. If you're not a huge fan of Ferrell then I would wait until it comes out on video and not pay the ridiculous prices at theatres these days, but it was definately worth it for me!

**JCJanko** · 08.05.06, 11:21 PM

Unfortunately, some are missing the point. I read an article that explained the point of this movie: to make fun of anyone who likes NASCAR and southern culture in general.

Being from the northeast, I obviously take offense to this (sarcasm inserted). Sadly, I believe Will Ferrell is beyond hilarious, and at some point I will see this movie and make up my own mind.

Oh well.