Will Ferrell wins again with a little help from his friends

Rating: 8/10 (14 August 2006)

Will Ferrell continues his winning streak with yet another irreverent take on the bizarre worlds that exist within our culture. First he tackled the 70s local news era in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Then the world of suburban soccer matches in Kicking and Screaming. This time around, he pokes fun within the increasingly popular NASCAR circuit in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
What makes Ferrell's films and characters so popular and fun to watch, is that he is self deprecating, yet entirely lovable as dim witted everymen. He can easily go over the top and extreme for the big laugh (I'm caught in a glass case of emotion!!!), yet his varied line delivery and altering of tone can make even a line like, "Thank you Baby Jesus" seem like the greatest punch line on earth.
Ricky Bobby is just as funny, if not funnier than most of Ferrell's previous work. It helps that he is smart enough to surround himself with other comedic talents, such as Sacha Baron Cohen, more commonly known for his persona, Ali G. In addition to Cohen, Talladega Nights includes two fine dramatic actors, John C. Reilly and Michael Clarke Duncan, playing it straight for laughs unlike any comedian could.
With a supporting cast like this, Ferrell and friends are encouraged to improvise wildly, spurring each other to new heights as they maintain their composure. Witness Reilly's multiple line deliveries at the dinner table during the closing credits' outtakes, and you realize just how talented comedic actors need to be. (And when it comes to talented actors, NO ONE can rival John C. Reilly!). i'm sure there's another film and a half worth of jokes on the cutting room floor, making the forthcoming DVD release a much anticipated event.
In fact, i had the impression while watching that there must have been more filmed, seeing as Cohen's hilarious French NASCAR driver (Jacques Villeneuve???) shares very few scenes with Ferrell. As a fan who loved the film, I would have liked to have seen more, but I appreciate the editing for the sake of story movement and pacing. The predictable story arc makes for a nice, comfortable zone for the jokes to fly, and you'll be laughing throughout the film without any worries about laughing right through a plot point. A real winner.
Grade: A-