An Sharp, Dumb Comedy about one man's ambitions about life in the fast lane and need for speed at the NASCAR races.

Rating: 8/10 (8 September 2007)

Ricky Bobby (Will Farrell) is one of the best new drivers in NASCAR history. Ricky is a big, hairy American winning machine will do anything to win on the race track with the help of his best friend Cal Naughton, Jr. (John C. Reilly). Ricky has everything he needs, an sexy wife (Leslie Bibb), an dedicated assistant (Amy Adams), an large mansion, an great team and two bratty kids (Houston Tumlin & Grayson Russell). But everything is going to change, when an new ambitious flamboyant Euro formula one driver Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen) joins the NASCAR racers to beat Ricky Bobby. While Girard is probably too good for Bobby. While Bobby loses one of the races, while trying to beat Girard. Bobby has an big accident on the race and now Bobby is too frighten to go back on the NASCAR races. While his wife turned her back on Bobby and plans to marry Cal instead. Now Bobby is stuck raising his two sons and he moves back to his mother's (Jane Lynch) place to start all over. Now Bobby is having an lifeless career as a pizza deliver man and having trouble to face his demons. But Bobby's long estranged father (Gary Cole) tries to help his son get back on his feet and trying to beat Girard once & for all at the next NASCAR race.
Directed by Adam McKay (Anchorman:The Legend of Roy Burgundy, Step Brothers) made an extremely dumb comedy with plenty of laughs with some heart as well. Farrell and Cohen have some great laughs, when they are on-screen together. This movie has an solid supporting cast as well with only an few underwritten roles, especially the role of Adams. Which her character could have been much bigger as well. This was one of the biggest comedies hits of 2006. Farrell, who also co-wrote the script with the director has some genuine laughs with this outrageous comedy.
DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an strong-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The DVD is the Unrated Edition with 13 minutes of additional footage. Although there's some footage mission from the theatrical version, which it created some controversial for the DVD release. The director re-edited this movie for the Unrated Cut. DVD also includes an mockumentary-styled commentary from the director and guests, deleted/extended scenes, outtakes and more. This film turned out to be success with the film critics as well. But personally, i prefer the previous teaming of Farrell and McKay's "Anchorman". I thought that film was an funnier and crazier movie than this one. But still "Talladega Nights" is a good comedy with some laugh-out moments. It has some special surprise cameos as well. McKay's next film with Farrell and Reilly in "Step Brothers" should be promisingly. Meanwhile enjoy this goofy comedy. Super 35. (*** ½/*****).