Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Rating: 3/10 (16 March 2009)

I knew this film was about racing, and I knew the two lead stars, and then I found out it was about NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) which I had heard of in Top Gear, so I was certainly going to try it. Basically Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) started as a replacement for a professional driver, but with his first time being so successful, his career as a racing sensation continued, and he goes on to win many more races. He and friend since childhood Cal Naughton Jr. (Chicago's John C. Reilly), calling each other "Shake" and "Bake", have a loyalty to each other to win every race and once in a while change from 1st and 2nd places, but Cal has always come 2nd. It is when flamboyant gay French Formula One driver Jean Girard (Borat's Sacha Baron Cohen) shows up challenging them that they must fight for their right to stay top of leader board. The biggest NASCAR race of all comes along, Talladega, and Ricky is determined to beat Jean, but in the end, with both getting out of their cars they are disqualified, and Cal finally wins a race. Also starring Gary Cole as Reese Bobby, The Green Mile's Michael Clarke Duncan as Lucius Washington, Leslie Bibb as Carley Bobby, Jane Lynch as Lucy Bobby, Amy Adams as Susan, Andy Richter as Gregory, The Grinch's Molly Shannon as Mrs. Dennit, Greg Germann as Larry Dennit Jr., Jack McBrayer as Glenn, Ian Roberts as Kyle, Houston Tumlin as Walker, Pat Hingle as Mr. Dennit Sr., Elvis Costello and Mos Def. There is the odd giggle or two in places, mostly coming from Cohen's ridiculous French accent (it's not even that good), but it doesn't have enough laughs, and the story isn't exactly engaging, it just gets a bit boring after a while, so I can't see myself watching it again. Adequate!