Obvious humour, but still great humour

Rating: 9/10 (1 October 2006)

It would be remiss to say that this sort of plot is not clichéd. Man makes it to top of sporting field, rival knocks him off, man becomes despondent and does some soul searching where he realises that he needs to be more unselfish to win. What makes Talledaga Nights different though, is the comedy. Will Ferrell has placed himself amongst a great cast of comic actors; so much so, that he doesn't try and hog the limelight. Instead, Ferrell is funny, but makes the movie funnier by taking a back seat when someone has a funnier bit. And what a cast, including John C. Reilly as his driving partner and team mate and Gary Cole as his estranged father. But best of all is Sacha Baron Cohen as his gay French rival, who seems to be channeling a camp version of Peter Sellers in his voice.
Talledaga Nights is easy to predict and there is little doubt what the ending will be. But the comedy is so good that you can't help but get swept up by it and enjoy the ride.