If You Ain't First You're Last

Rating: 10/10 (16 November 2012)

"If You Ain't First, You're Last."
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is one of the best Will Ferrell comedies ever. While I wouldn't allow small children to watch the movie the entertaining plot, all-star cast, and hilarious lines blend together to make this movie great for the older ages. The movie also serves a higher purpose- the writers use the movie to show the uninformed audience just how competitive the world of competitive racing can be. The movie follows the overnight sensation NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby, in his journey through the world of competitive racing. Ricky Bobby is never alone in his racing career; he has his wife Carley, sons Walker and Texas Ranger, and childhood friend Cal Naughton Jr., played by John C. Reilly. Cal Naughton is not only his old friend, but is also Ricky Bobby's "Shake" and "Bake" driving teammate who always comes in second to Ricky Bobby's first. As a driver, Ricky Bobby comes across many challenges. The biggest, however, is his French competitor Jean Girard, who wants nothing more to defeat the famous Ricky Bobby. The two must fight to earn to title as NASCAR's top driver
I remember the first time that I watched this movie I was mesmerized by the quality of acting and found myself quoting the lines for days. As in all of his movies, Will Ferrell has a natural charisma that makes Ricky Bobby come alive. Not many actors can make a family grace last for three minutes and still keep the audience watching. Another important part of why Will Ferrell can perform so well in this movie is because of his supporting actors, such as John C. Reilly. The two also star in Step Brothers together because they have so much on screen chemistry. In Talladega Nights, Ferrell and Reilly share scenes that highlight both of their personalities. One of the most memorable is at the race track during a fight between Jean Girard and Ricky Bobby when Reilly stays back and just consistently adds the team's motto "Shake and bake" to the argument in the attempt to intimidate Girard. This scene clearly portrays Cal Naughton Jr., Reilly, as Ricky Bobby's sidekick who is there simply to add humor while backing up his friend.
Comedy is used throughout the film to not only entertain the audience, but also to show the audience how the NASCAR community works. The writers created a comedic relationship between Ricky Bobby and Jean Girard as competitors. While many drivers probably aren't forced to say "I love crepes" in a bar by their competitors, there is still an extreme amount of tension between them. The writers succeeded in conveying to the audience how competitive the racers are through scenes with Bobby and Girard. Another way comedy is used in the movie is through the quote "If you ain't first, you're last." This quote appears countless times in the movie by Ricky Bobby and his family. When Bobby says this quote, he is representing the drivers who believe this, but are too scared to come out and say it like he does. Many drivers have this same win at all costs attitude and want first place no matter what. These comedic references to the real world of NASCAR show the audience how competitive the drivers can become.
This movie definitely comes in first. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby has an interesting plot that goes where no movie has gone before. The writers also cleverly use comedy to convey to the audience how competitive the drivers can get in NASCAR. All of these qualities blend together to make a movie that anyone can enjoy.