- Directors: Adam McKay
- Region: All Regions
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B005VAZZMC
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omic sensation Will Ferrell (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, ANCHORMAN) plays Ricky Bobby, a figure who is at once laughably ridiculous, infuriating, and loveable. Ricky Bobby, with his bleached-blonde wife, cute sons Walker and Texas Ranger, and dim sidekick Cal (award-winning actor John C. Reilly, flexing his considerable comedic muscle), has got it made. He is NASCAR's most popular driver, and nearly every aspect of his life is endorsed by a recognisable product. Yet his racetrack kingdom is not unshakeable: two formidable opponents, his unpleasable father, Reese (Gary Cole), and a flashy new opponent, the openly gay French import Jean (played by a hilarious Sasha Baron Cohen, known to millions as Borat and Ali G), threaten to hijack his crown and expose his vulnerabilities. Though it is one of America's most popular sporting events, the association of NASCAR with uneducated, backwards rednecks seems cemented into the American consciousness. So the brilliant comedy TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY, is not just a side-splitting series of slapstick pratfalls and over-the-top accents, but a lens into an important part of American culture.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Alan P
Format:DVD
One of the best spoof movies I've ever seen. Will Ferrell's shallow good ole boy Ricky Bobby is a feckless idiot who rises from tyre changer in a no-hope NASCAR team to become the star driver of the circuit. Obsessed with winning after a throwaway comment by his deadbeat racer dad (brilliantly played by Gary Cole), and ignorant of his shallow, mutually empty relationships with his groupie wife, horrendous kids (named Walker and Texas Ranger) and equally thick best friend (John C Reilly), he finally hits the proverbial brick wall in the shape of Sacha Baron Cohen's star turn as Formula 1 Frenchman Jean Girard. Thus begins a slow rebuilding of his life and career - this time the "right" way... sort of!
Subtly sending up every "serious" film of this type (mainly Days of Thunder, Top Gun etc) and the real-life downhome ignorance of the redneck NASCAR following, this not only delivers on the gags (this film is truly hilarious) it also is remarkably smart at portraying the emptiness of the blue-collar sports star's life when faced with enormous fortune, media coverage and hero worship, and the fickle desertion of the hero when he hits skid row.
It is a spoof movie, but not in the sense of the Airplane or Scary Movie series - the movie has a real warmth and actually does tell a real human story in amongst the endless side-splitting gags. It also avoids the kind of schmaltzy American syrup-filled scenes of such films by throwing in the unexpected at each turn.
Worth seeing for Sacha Baron Cohen's performance alone, and Ricky Bobby's "grace" before their Pizza Hut and KFC dinner. If you're in the right mood this will have you crying!
Subtly sending up every "serious" film of this type (mainly Days of Thunder, Top Gun etc) and the real-life downhome ignorance of the redneck NASCAR following, this not only delivers on the gags (this film is truly hilarious) it also is remarkably smart at portraying the emptiness of the blue-collar sports star's life when faced with enormous fortune, media coverage and hero worship, and the fickle desertion of the hero when he hits skid row.
It is a spoof movie, but not in the sense of the Airplane or Scary Movie series - the movie has a real warmth and actually does tell a real human story in amongst the endless side-splitting gags. It also avoids the kind of schmaltzy American syrup-filled scenes of such films by throwing in the unexpected at each turn.
Worth seeing for Sacha Baron Cohen's performance alone, and Ricky Bobby's "grace" before their Pizza Hut and KFC dinner. If you're in the right mood this will have you crying!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By M. P. Barnes
Format:DVD
Ferrell is usually much funnier than this. It WAS funny in parts, and I DID laugh, but just not often enough. Some really good actors in it too...Gary ?Lucas? the guy from "Midnight Caller" didn't convince me as his "55" year old Dad. Cohen's accent WAS pants, but still a funny guy and a funny character. If you like Ferrell, you'll probably love it, if not, you probably won't. As I said, average fare.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I guess I was slightly suprised, like many other viewers it would appear, that this film has a slightly different approach to what we expect from Will Ferrell and the man himself, Borat. Based upon the NASCAR series of racing, the film is all in all, "good". Sacha Baron Cohen ('Borat') plays probably the funniest part of the film, as a gay French racing driver with possibly the funniest French accent i've heard to date. Will Ferrell meanwhile plays the lead role as a NASCAR driver who was brought up by his wacky dad to believe in the true to life American of "winning is the only option" (Lombardian Ethic) and so, as a grown man, he enjoys the highs of winnining his races while making millions, and sharing his house with the blonde bimbo, and spoilt children, who totally crack me up.
The reason this film has had mixed reviews is likely to be down to the content. Sometimes, jokes can maybe go on a bit too long, or the films breaks on long scenes, and then quickly move onto a different subject, just little things really. I think its also hard to establish what type of audience this is for, which is probably why people like it or hate it, as just like the film Zoolander, you can take it, or you can't.
But in my personal opinion, this is an entertaining film that has it moments, and should give you some good laughs.
The reason this film has had mixed reviews is likely to be down to the content. Sometimes, jokes can maybe go on a bit too long, or the films breaks on long scenes, and then quickly move onto a different subject, just little things really. I think its also hard to establish what type of audience this is for, which is probably why people like it or hate it, as just like the film Zoolander, you can take it, or you can't.
But in my personal opinion, this is an entertaining film that has it moments, and should give you some good laughs.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Will Ferrell Classic
A typical Will Ferrell and regular supporting cast ensemble that makes fun of the usual stereotypes around nascar and its fans. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Adam H.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sacha Baron Cohen destroyed to the flow
I was just getting into this movie, the characters had just got the plot moving, things were looking good, the atmosphere and the usual crazy WF and the great JR were just getting... Read more
Published 2 months ago by A Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Given seller 5 stars but cant watch due to my own fault!
I am not familiar with the different regions and stupidly bought this - and I cant play it on my own players. Not the sellers fault of course so rating them 5 for quick despatch
Published 3 months ago by Margaret McInnes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny and Clever
Watched this with my son after seeing bits of it before and we both loved it. I think some people have missed the point of this with the product placement jokes and stereotypes. Read more
Published 5 months ago by S Finnerty
5.0 out of 5 stars
BEST MOVIE EVER MADE
BEST MOVIE EVER MADE
-"Ricky Bobby"
Great movie indeed... From the beginning to the end was hillarious!!!
Shake and Bake!
-"Ricky Bobby"
Great movie indeed... From the beginning to the end was hillarious!!!
Shake and Bake!
Published 7 months ago by yonpol
5.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't get it in the post.
Didn't arrive in the post, but alas, this isn't a review for the seller.
I got it elsewhere, and I love it. Read more
I got it elsewhere, and I love it. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Arron Rees
4.0 out of 5 stars
Talladega Nights
I think it's a fair bet to say that if you have enjoyed other Will Ferrell films, then you will also enjoy Talladega Nights. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2010 by Spider Monkey
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not a classic by any means...
To like this film, you have to love Will Ferrell and everything he has to offer. For my taste it's too silly. Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2010 by N. J. Elcox
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most amazing comedy ever made
Talladega Nights has to be the best Will Ferrell film ever made, almost the best comedy film ever made. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2010 by A. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
Very funny film and awesome Blu ray quality. Very fast delivery and no problems at all.
Published on 4 Feb 2009 by S. Tower
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