Off target but still more creative then many laughers

Rating: 5/10 (8 December 2006)

The over-hyped, over-marketed racing comedy featuring overdone, overvalued Will Ferrell immediately had a wrench thrown in it's spokes, if nothing but for the sheer pomposity of it's advertising, through the sheer arrogance of it's lead's bank-ability. Though far from a uninspired comedy, Talladega Nights does prove that Ricky Bobby is no Ron Burgundy. In their last collaboration, writer/director Adam Mckay and writer/star Ferrell displayed much more comfort, knowledge, and wit when versed in their 1970's news world farce Anchorman which, while just as self indulgent and lapsed in solidity as any ex-SNLer's post resume would predict, still knew itself and it's humor quite well. With cocky, oblivious hot-shot NASCAR pro Ricky Bobby, we see a much more stereotypical, lazy script that easily plays the moron cards and relies too heavily on Will Ferrell's lukewarm improvisational flights. In their pseudo-lovingly mapped tribute to all things white trash Americana, this ballad comes out a little imperceptive, insensitive, even condescending. What on paper seemed like a great comedic premise to mine turned out to play like a bunch of city boys poking fun at southern culture. Though the humor is decidedly derogatory, there does lie a heart inside this crude cartoon cut out, even if that is also an insincere one. What saved the movie from being poor, despite my low hard laugh to forced chuckle ratio, was the same mature scope that was to enhance Mr. Burgundy's shallow escapades so memorably. Highlighting the seldomly sharp dialog, breathes the unique racing setting, with a narrative arc that basically parallels the other R.B., creating another unique sub-genre comedy, only this time suffering greatly from a lack of character perspective, coupled with a willingness to succumb to the character-worshiping, mass-marketed whoredom that it mocks. Disappointingly, ha-ha mastermind Sacha Baron Cohen's underplayed performance pales to anything he saves for himself and does not help add much comedic dimension in an already questionable supporting cast. Although Ferrell and crew may be wearing out their comedic welcome, they will certainly conceptually fight it until the end.