Will Ferrell delivers, the movie... not so much

Rating: 6/10 (26 January 2007)

Lately, Will Ferrell has become one of my favorite on screen comedians. He has done some really funny stuff in "Elf" and "Anchorman" as well as some of his lesser roles in movies like "Zoolander" and "Starsky and Hutch". So, of course I thought Ferrell did a great job as the southern NASCAR pit crew member turned race car driver. Ferrell, as Ricky Bobby, held his own. I think this movie was more of a let down with its story and circumstances than the acting.
I also think I had too high hopes for this movie. It did not bomb, but I was expecting to love every second and laugh until my head split. Well, there were some very funny scenes, and cumulatively this movie was funny. But, there were some very unfunny scenes as well, and the end was down right disgusting. I liked every character with the exception of Sacha Baron Cohen's character (Jean Girard). He was just gay and annoying more than anything.
"Talledega Nights" was an amusing view of NASCAR life and southern life in general. Maybe its a movie that I will enjoy more the second time around, or maybe not.