When a new sensation in NASCAR driving comes from nowhere he quickly becomes a fans favourite with his win at all costs attitude. Along with his best friend Cal Naughton Jr (John C Reilly), Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) seems to have the world at his feet. The arrival of a new world champion French ... Read review
No Brakes. No Brains.From the people who brought you Anchorman and The 40 Year Old Virgin ... more
comes this hilarious fast-paced comedy starring Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby - one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. Ricky has everything a racing sensation and national hero could wish for: a luxurious mansion, a smokin' hot wife (Leslie Bibb) and a loyal racing partner, childhood friend Cal Naughton, Jr. But flamboyant French Formula One driver Jean Girard is about to wreck Ricky's world and challenge for the supremacy of NASCAR. Now Ricky must face his demons and kick some serious asphalt if he's to get his career back on the track, beat Girard and reclaim his fame and fortune.'Cause as Ricky Bobby always says, IF YOU AIN'T FIRST, YOU'RE LAST!
From the people who brought you Anchorman and The 40 Year Old Virgin comes this hilarious ... more
fast-paced comedy starring Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby - and one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. Ricky has everything a racing sensation and national hero could ever wish for: a luxurious mansion, a smokin' hot wife (Leslie Bibb) and a loyal racing partner, childhood friend Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reily). But flamboyant French Formula One driver Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen, TV's Da Ali G Show) is about to wreck Ricky's world and challenge for the supermacy of NASCAR. Now Ricky must face his demons and kick some serious asphalt if he's to get his career back on the track, beat Girard and reclaim his fame and fortune. 'Cause as Ricky Bobby always says, IF YOU AIN'T FIRST, YOU'RE LAST!
From the people who bought you Anchorman and The 40 Year Old Virgin comes this hilarious ... more
fast-paced comedy starring Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby - one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. Ricky has everything a racing sensation and national hero could wish for: a luxurious mansion a smokin' hot wife (Leslie Bibb) and a loyal racing partner childhood friend Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly). But flamboyant French Formula One driver Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen) is about to wreck Ricky's world and challenge for the supremacy of NASCAR. Now Ricky must face his demons and kick some serious asphalt if he's to get his career back on the track beat Girard and reclaim his fame and fortune. 'Cause as Ricky Bobby always says If You Ain't First Your Last!
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Advantages: A few small chuckles Disadvantages: The latest installment in the Will Ferrell show
When a new sensation in NASCAR driving comes from nowhere he quickly becomes a fans favourite with his win at all costs attitude. Along with his best friend Cal Naughton Jr (John C Reilly), Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) seems to have the world at his feet. The arrival of a new world champion French F1 driver (Sacha Baron Cohen) seems to give Ricky a new challenger to compete with. Now it's time for Bobby to try and prove himself to be the best driver ... ...plain sailing for him as he tries to beat Jean Girard.
Having not really enjoyed Anchorman that much, although it has grown on me the more I've seen it, I sat down to watch one of Ferrell's latest offerings. The story of Ricky Bobby's rise through NASCAR didn't particularly appeal too much but it did seem that it would at least be amusing. How wrong I turned out to be, apart from a couple of funny moments this film really offers nothing ... more
When a new sensation in NASCAR driving comes from nowhere he quickly becomes a fans favourite with his win at all costs attitude. Along with his best friend Cal Naughton Jr (John C Reilly), Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) seems to have the world at his feet. The arrival of a new world champion French F1 driver (Sacha Baron Cohen) seems to give Ricky a new challenger to compete with. Now it's time for Bobby to try and prove himself to be the best driver of the lot but it's not all going to be plain sailing for him as he tries to beat Jean Girard.
Having not really enjoyed Anchorman that much, although it has grown on me the more I've seen it, I sat down to watch one of Ferrell's latest offerings. The story of Ricky Bobby's rise through NASCAR didn't particularly appeal too much but it did seem that it would at least be amusing. How wrong I turned out to be, apart from a couple of funny moments this film really offers nothing and seems like one of the biggest wastes of 110 minutes I've spent in a long time. As a comedy this film really is incredibly weak and really as a film it's hardly much better.
Of course perhaps my initial feelings towards Anchorman should have warned me that I wouldn't enjoy this film. Written and directed by the same man who brought us Anchorman, Adam McKay teams up once again with Farrell The camera work was quite good and I actually thought that the race scenes worked really well. In fact the movie looks quite good but with relatively no script or plot to work with there is only so far impressive race scene's can take a movie. Even the special effects and stunts, which include some incredible crashes, can do very little to actually save this movie.
One of the first things that sprang to mind before I watched this movie was Days Of Thunder and no wonder as this films plot seems to have been stolen almost directly. There are a few changes to the script but there isn't anything original in the plot. As for the script I don't think there actually was one, the film has a real feeling that the actors were just given an idea to work with for each scene and told to make something up as they went along. While this could have worked well the ideas must have been so vague that some parts of the movie are just so unreal it isn't funny at all.
I recently sat and watched Stranger Than Fiction starring Ferrell and I thought that he actually suited the more serious role. This role however sees him return to the same old character he has been in countless other movies. In the first few of those it was funny and he fitted the role well but now the character has been in so many movies that Ferrell as Ricky Bobby is just the same as Ferrell in any of his other comedy roles. He seems to work quite well with Sacha Baron Cohen and they play off each other very well. In fact I think it's fair to say that Cohen as the arrogant French driver is one of the funniest things about this film.
The comparisons with Days of Thunder doesn't stop with just the plot however. The actor playing Cal Naughton Jr is infact the same actor who plays Tom Cruise's right hand man in Days of Thunder. While again there were a few funny moments with John C. Reilly in he didn't really work for me as the comedy sidekick but again I think that's down to Ferrell's lead character rather than a reflection of his own performance. The rest of the cast are all equally as unmemorable and even though the cast boasted Michael Clarke Duncan I thought they all paled into the background of the Will Ferrell show.
Overall this is a film that I had a lot of doubt about before I started to watch it and I should really have listened to it. If you like Ferrell playing the same character for the god knows how many film then you'll enjoy this. I'm actually getting a little bored of it and preferred his recent outing in a more serious film. If it hadn't been for just how similar it is to Days of Thunder this might have at least been slightly amusing but for me it just doesn't work.
Andy.mack 18.09.2007 (18.09.2007)
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Review of Talladega Nights - The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (DVD)
Advantages: Some great performances Disadvantages: The humour is somewhat lost on me
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is the second film in the Mediocre American Man Trilogy, also known as the Colon Trilogy. The first film was Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and starred Will Ferrell alongside a host of comedians that have employed comedy in poking fun at stereotypes and themselves. This film follows the same mould, with Deep South American humour being exploited as well as NASCAR racing.
The Plot
All his life ... ...in the footsteps of his racing driver father who left the family when Ricky Bobby was young, leaving him with one sentence: 'If you ain't first, you're last!' Ricky takes this motto all the way with him, quickly becoming the top driver, in a team with his childhood friend and racing partner, Cal Naughton Jr. They have a team motto, 'Shake 'n' Bake', which they use to help Ricky Bobby win all the races, with Cal always coming in second.
Frenchman ...
pmcds 04.06.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Talladega Nights - The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (DVD)
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Advantages: A good boys film Disadvantages: Predictable, Lacks some laughs
on the TalladegaNights track in America, who is part of a failing Car team, with terrible drivers and sponsors. So Ricky starts to drive and wins the race. His career becomes a high and along with his best friend Cal, Ricky becomes famous. Fame however gets to his head and he becomes annoying and rude to everyone, but he is winning.
Along comes Jean Gerriard, who is a famous gay F1 driver who takes everything away from Ricky. After Ricky has a terrible crash he gives up everything and his best friend Cal takes it. Will Ricky be able to become a better driver and win back everything?
Will Farrell who plays RickyBobby did a very good job with the character and he was funny. He was also producer and writer for the film. John C. Reilly who plays Cal does a very good job, but I had never heard of him until that but hope to see him in other movies ...
Advantages: Funny at times. Will Ferrell! Disadvantages: Seems to drag at times. I wasn't hooked.
I bought this film on the off chance in Tesco three days ago. I was quite excited because Will Ferrell is one of my favourite actors and this is one of the few Ferrell films I have not yet seen. I decided to watch it last night with my sister as we were in the mood for a comedy and a Will Ferrell film seemed like the perfect choice!
The beginning of the film was fairly average, kid has not seen his dad in years, then his dad shows up, wasted, for career day. We are introduced to the main character - RickyBobby. Ricky is one of the best drivers in NASCAR history. His best friend is called Cal and his wife is called Carley. To be honest, the story sort of confused me. There didn't seem to be an apparent beginning, middle and end. Events kept happening that didn't seem to flow with what had happened previously. In fact, my sister and I ...
Advantages: Will Ferrell at his finest Disadvantages: Predictable
Director:
Adam McKay (Anchorman)
Starring:
Will Ferrell
John C Reilly
Sacha Baron Cohen
Michael Clarke Duncan
Gary Cole
Rating:
15
Release Year:
2006
Running Time:
116 minutes
DVD Extras:
Deleted & Extended Scenes
Bloopers Reel
Extra Race Footage
Interviews with RickyBobby, Carley & Cal
Commentaries from Ferrell, Reilly & McKay
Will Ferrell returns to Talladega Featurette
Plot:
RickyBobby (Ferrell) has wanted to go fast all his life, his dad (Cole) - a 'semi professional race car driver and ameteur tattooist' - taught him "If you're not first you're last" - something which stayed with him to his adult years.
Whilst working in a NASCAR pit team, Ricky gets the chance to drive for his team and never looks back. He quickly becomes one of the best drivers, along with his childhood pal Cal (Reilly ...
Ricky Bobby--with his bleached-blonde wife, cute sons Walker and Texas Ranger, and dim sidekick Cal--has got it made. He is NASCAR's most popular driver, and nearly every aspect of his life is endorsed by a recognisable product. Yet his racetrack kingdom is not unshakeable: two formidable opponents, his unpleasable father Reese and a flashy new opponent--the openly gay French import Jean--threaten to hijack his crown and expose his vulnerabilities.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Sound
Stereo
DVD Description
Comic sensation Will Ferrell (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, ANCHORMAN) plays Ricky Bobby, a figure who is at once laughably ridiculous, infuriating, and loveable. Ricky Bobby, with his bleached-blonde wife, cute sons Walker and Texas Ranger, and dim sidekick Cal (award-winning actor John C. Reilly, flexing his considerable comedic muscle), has got it made. He is NASCAR's most popular driver, and nearly every aspect of his life is endorsed by a recognisable product. Yet his racetrack kingdom is not unshakeable: two formidable opponents, his unpleasable father, Reese (Gary Cole), and a flashy new opponent, the openly gay French import Jean (played by a hilarious Sasha Baron Cohen, known to millions as Borat and Ali G), threaten to hijack his crown and expose his vulnerabilities. Though it is one of America's most popular sporting events, the association of NASCAR with uneducated, backwards rednecks seems cemented into the American consciousness. So the brilliant comedy TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY, is not just a side-splitting series of slapstick pratfalls and over-the-top accents, but a lens into an important part of American culture. Though many of the jokes are easy laughs (having Ferrell run around shirtless is a guaranteed guffaw-fest), the script (co-written by Farrell and Adam McKay) is nuanced and intelligent, lending its characters much more sympathy and complexity than dumber comedies are want to do. Every performer--from Ferrell to Amy Adams (as Susan, Bobby's fawning assistant)--tackles his or her part with joy and relish. A hilarious humdinger of a movie with smarts and savvy, TALLADEGA NIGHTS ensures Ferrell's position as one of comedy's shining talents.
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