"Talladega" Funniest in Years

Rating: 8/10 (9 August 2006)

"Talladega Nights" is without a doubt the funniest Will Farrell flick I've ever seen. Of course, I've only seen a couple, so I really wouldn't know. Nevertheless, it was hilarious. Though if you're not a fan of Will Farrell, NASCAR, or pure stupidity, you'll probably just be mildly annoyed.
"The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" is the tale of a race car driver who really does have the need for speed. Ricky starts out as a lowly pit crew member, but ends up racing when the racer he worked for decides it's time for a lunch break. And guess what, Ricky goes from last to first place. From there he wins every race-even when going backwards- until a new French racer causes him crash. This causes him to think he's on fire, which then causes him to think he is paralyzed, which leads to him sticking a knife in his leg to prove it. But he won't let that stop him, he must always be number 1, or his name isn't Ricky Bobby.
Yeah, it's a dumb plot, but it's hilarious. Will Farrell did a good job in my opinion. I've always thought he was funny ever since he played Alex Trebeck on "Saturday Night Live". John C. Reilly as Ricky's best friend, Cal Naughton Jr., also does well in his first comedic role. Then there's Sasha Baron Cohen as the gay French driver Jean Girard, umyeah, not much to say about that. The one thing I didn't like is the extended racing scenes. NASCAR fans will enjoy it; everyone else will be checking their watches. Other than that you'll be laughing pretty hard every minute or so, which, I'd say, is good for a comedy. Most of the time there are only a couple belly laughs.
Well, that's about it, not much more you can say about comedies. So if you're in the mood to guffaw, watch some wacky Will, etcetera, then this film will have you in stitches.
I give Mr. Bobby 8 out of 10.
This film is rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, drug references and brief comic violence.