a speed fan's comedy that doesn't go away fast enough

Rating: 3/10 (2 January 2007)

As a comedian, Will Ferrell has frequently shown the chops to merit him one of this generation's shining stars however his feature film career has been spotty at best. His stint behind the wheel of the NASCAR comedy "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" is simply an embarrassment for all of the talent involved. It tells the story of Ricky Bobby, a guy who has yearned to follow in his father's speed demon footsteps since a very young age. When the circumstances fall into his lap to race at NASCAR he quickly becomes a legend. The comedy, as it is, plays out in the most low-brow fashion, leading any longtime film viewer to recognize this one as a modern-day example of those "Smokey and the Bandit" or "Cannonball Run" movies. Occasionally some of the bits work, especially the over-accentuated product placement and one ridiculously long prayer session, but by the time Sacha Baron Cohen (of the infamous "Borat") shows up to spew bad homosexual French jokes all hope is lost.