Has its Moments, But "Anchorman" Will Always Be Funnier

Rating: 7/10 (16 December 2006)

Will Ferrell has always been funny and he will always be funny in my book. From his early days on SNL to the hilarious "Anchorman," his antics have become a pop culture icon of the 90's and 2000's. And now he comes to theaters and Blockbuster with "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." Although it seems slightly less funny than "Anchorman," "Talladega" has its moments when its laugh after laugh.
Ricky Bobby (Ferrell) is a champion race car driver. Taking advice from his deadbeat semi-pro race car driving dad, Ricky becomes obsessed with the phrase, "If you aren't first you're last." So with his friend, Cal Naughton, Jr. (John C. Reilly) at his side, Ricky is an unbeaten driver...until the hilarious French driver, Jean Girard (Sascha Baron Cohen) comes to America to beat him.
After suffering a terrible crash in a race with Girard, Ricky goes to a hospital where he believes he is paralyzed. It is up to Lucius Washington (Michael Clarke Duncan) and Cal to get him up and driving again. But when the speed-loving Bobby won't go fast anymore, his fans, his wife, and sometimes his best friend abandon him.
With no one on his side, but his deadbeat dad and his loving mom, Ricky must learn to race again and race against the ever-smart Girard. All the actors play their parts perfectly, but I couldn't help but feel like I enjoyed "Anchorman" more as a comedy. With Ferrell's group of friends as supporting actors, "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" is worth the $4.27 I spent at Blockbuster for it and possibly the 15 dollars I'll pay in the future for it, but I'm not rushing to get it like I was the day "Anchorman" came out.
7/10