Will Ferrell comedies tend to fall into two categories for me: unwatchable, and endurable. This one fell into category number two. If you love Will Ferrell, nothing I say is going to change your mind. If you don't; well, this is one you can sit through.
.... alright, fine. Sacha Baron Cohen's "Jean Girard", French Nascar driver, was hilarious. The rest is nothing special.
You know, I keep watching Will Ferrell movies in hopes to be entertained, and it's not happening. He is turning into a one trick pony like Adam Sandler. There were a couple amusing parts, but not enough to support the entire movie.
Carrying the sufficient warning label: from the people who brought us Anchorman and The 40 Year Old Virgin, this is as slow and unfunny as you'd expect.
The irritating opening sets up the tone for this irreverent film, and feels, for some reason, the need to show us Ricky's entire life, so that the plot doesn't start until about fifty minutes in, which goes some way to explain how this meandering, pointless film could possibly be nearly two hours long. The section where Ricky's life hits the rocks is the only mildly watchable part.
Ricky is very annoying, which is a confused but deliberate step. All the characters are over the top to the extent where you can't care about them as they are just walking jokes, which makes the redemption plot tedious. And the character of Susan is so absent throughout most of the proceedings, she'd do better being cut. There are also no villains, with anyone opposing Ricky actually being in the right.
The improvised style seems to be rampant as scenes go on forever and get repetitive, possibly because this is the 'uncut' version and yet there still appear to be deleted and extended footage on the extras. Sacha Baron Cohen as Ricky's rival clearly struggles on screen to come up with more random things to say. These tedious or uncomfortable sections scream the need for a director or editor, but apparently, they've taken the day off.
The racing itself is dull, I couldn't hear racing dialogue over the engine whines and tyre squeals and all the cars look the same. If Herbie Fully Loaded and Cars taught us anything, it was that NASCAR doesn't make for good films, and Talladega Nights is the worst yet.
Such is the reaction of watching two hours - two almost entire freaking HOURS - of this Will Ferrell racing comedy, where a famous race-driver who values money and victory over friends and family learns... oh, come on. Isn't it obvious? As well as the million and one films and books that already exist on this subject, there's the small matter of Cars: released the same year as Talladega Nights, it's a movie about Nascar racing that deals with almost the entire same story. And I'm pretty sure it's the same car.
Is Talladega Nights car-crash awful? No. Is it particularly funny? No again: I averaged one or two laughs every half an hour. Sometimes, as certain scenes drifted past their sell-by dates, I began to forget how the film started.
It's dull. Slow, overloaded, simplistic, obvious, dull. Even with perfectly capable comedy actors like Ferrell, John C. Reilly and Sacha Baron Cohen (the latter struggling with a lispy French accent that makes Clouseau sound like a native), the film desperately limps past every checkpoint. I can think of no reason for the film's gassy length. And if you've seen Cars or any Will Ferrell film, I can think of no reason for you to even bother watching this at all.
Ferrell himself has rarely looked so utterly bored. This is a non-role; an unimpressive jerk who's no fun to be with, and is considerably more effortlessly detestable than any of the so-called "villains" seen elsewhere. (They've generally got good reason to want to squash Ricky's career. Even his boorish father seems to be strangely idolised by the filmmakers.)
Anchorman is overrated, but at least its scattershot approach worked sometimes. Talladega Nights is so slow-burning and obvious from the start, the sparse good jokes are absolutely swamped. It's an exhausting, bottom-numbing experience, that seems determined to make its audience apologise for the nastiness of its main character.
Will Ferrell is capable of brilliance (Stranger Than Fiction, Old School, Anchorman), but he doesn't show any of that here. Basically, this film is not a comedy about Nascar but about redneck America and although it has a few funny moments, they are few.
This movie is just full of dumb humor but i love it. He is close minded and nothing is better than when they try to attack him with "whirlwind" arms or somethin haha
A pretty funny Will Ferrell comedy with a diverse cast and satirical take on NASCAR and Southern culture. Ferrell's best work comes out when he partners with Adam McKay, even if that comes every 2 or so years. The real stand-out here is John C. Reilly as Ferrell's scene-stealing sidekick... and it was a great move having them pair up again in 'Step Brothers'. If I want to have a good laugh, this will always lift up my spirits.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is Hilarious. Will Ferrell is being called "the Chevy Chase" of the X-Generation". a lot of people don`t know that this film was on filmed location in the state of North Carolina
Let's make it clear from the start that this is NOT a slight toward those of you who enjoy Will Ferrell comedies. I'm convinced that it's a question of acquired taste, much like drinking MadDog 20/20, or watching competitive tractor pulls, or marrying your second cousin. So, before you raise a ruckus that might wake the rest of the trailer park, especially your Mom's boyfriend, sit back, relax, and try to remember that not everyone is as sophisticated as you are.
*NOTE: Honest dude, sophisticated is a real word. Look it up if you don't believe me. I swear.
I'm stunned. I laughed really hard at this movie. I did not expect it to be this funny. The scene in the hospital where Ricky Bobby stabs himself in the leg was fall out of your chair funny. It was so funny I didn't mind the coarse humor and that's saying something.
Ricky Bobby: Dear Lord Baby Jesus, I want to thank you for this wonderful meal, my two beautiful son's, Walker and Texas Ranger, and my Red-Hot Smokin' Wife, Carley Carley Bobby: Woo! Cal Naughton, Jr.: Mmmhmm! Walker, Texas Ranger: Ow!
Ricky Bobby (Ferrell) is the #1 NASCAR driver with everything, the money, the house, the wife, the best friend and the kids (named Walker and Texas Ranger!). This all comes crashing down when a challenger in the form of Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), a top gay French driver who shows him up. So it's up to Ricky Bobby to win back the title and his fans with a little help from his father. Will Ferrell never turns out to be the best thing about his films. In this case, the best line has to be from Girard quipping 'I saw Highlander. It was shit!' as he rams Ricky. Great quote!
Adam McKay does a Will Farrell comedy in this wacky send upto NASCAR racers everywhere. They might be offended. Well, if they are, they just don't know Will.
I wanted so much to hate this movie, and sure there were parts that I did, but overall I admit I laughed a lot. There were basic problems in the plot, but who goes to see a Will Ferrel movie expecting a great story? I found myself laughing hysterically most of the time, and that is all I am really looking for in this type of movie.
awesome!!!! i love when the kids say mean things and when everybody just says stuff. like jesus or whatever. or like "shut up before i put you in a microwave". that kinda stuff haha definately numero uno!!!!
Funny...But Will Never Be A Comedy Classic. Will Ferrell Is Funny As Useral. But There Where Some Parts In This Movie I Just Didn't Die Laughing. I'm A Will Ferrell Fan Dissapornted. Though I Do Have To Admit That There Were Acturly Very Few Parts That I Lauged. Overall, The Movie Was Funny But I Expected A Lot More.
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