“Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” (Sony Pictures)
Hits All the Right Notes
Will Ferrell and his writing partner Adam McKay must be living right. They have come up with the right movie at the right time in “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.” This story about the fictional number one driver in NASCAR is as timely as can be. People are being drawn to NASCAR racing in droves and the racing stars are becoming American idols. So what better time to have a spoof about the “bestest, fastest” driver in that sport.
Ricky Bobby (Ferrell) is the son of Reese and Lucy Bobby (Gary Cole and Jane Lynch). Reese took off right after Bobby was born but he did pop back up when Bobby was ten to tell him “if you aren’t first you are last.” These became words to live by along with the phrase, “I want to go fast.” And fast he goes, as he becomes the number one driver at NASCAR.
Ricky has it all – money, fame, a hot wife (Leslie Bibb), and a dedicated best friend (John C Reilly). But what goes up must come down and fate deals Ricky Bobby a blow when French racecar driver Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen) shows up. He has come to compete with Ricky Bobby and to defeat him.
In a race where they both compete Ricky Bobby’s car spins out of control and hits another car. It then flips through the air. Ricky Bobby is unharmed physically but he loses his nerve. That is when things start to go downhill. Can Ricky Bobby come back Will he ever win a race again Will he find true love These and other questions are answered in “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.”
Will Ferrell is perfect for the role of Ricky Bobby. He can be as dim-witted as necessary yet show an innate intelligence. He also makes this character loveable and endearing. Reilly is also perfect as his best buddy. The two of them sling one liners at each other with ease.
Trying to steal the movie (and almost succeeding) is Cohen. His gay, urbane Frenchman is a laugh riot. Just hearing him pronounce Ricky Bobby’s name is worth the price of admission. He never breaks character and is always hilarious.
Cole and Lynch are also outstanding as Bobby’s parents. They each manage to carve out a character with only a small amount of screen time. Awards are never handed out to actors in silly movies like this one, but these two sure do deserve some attention for their acting here.
The film is rated PG-13 for profanity, adult humor and racecar violence.
For just absolute fun and hilarity go to see “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.” It takes the best of Will Ferrell from “Elf” and mixes it with the best of Will Ferrell from “Anchorman.” Smash them together and you get Ricky Bobby, a funny, funny man in a funny, funny movie.
I scored “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” a vroom 7 out of 10.
