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Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

 
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Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

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  • Director: Adam McKay
  • AMG Rating: starstarstar
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Movie Type: Sports Comedy
  • Themes: Hotshots, Feuds, Rise and Fall Stories
  • Main Cast: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Gary Cole, Michael Clarke Duncan
  • Release Year: 2006
  • Country: US
  • Run Time: 107 minutes
  • MPAA Rating: PG13

Plot

When America's number one NASCAR speed-demon is issued a direct challenge from a gay, French Formula One racer with a hunger for the top spot and a mean talent for tight-cornering, the race is on to become the number one man in all of NASCAR in a full throttle comedy starring Will Ferrell and directed by Anchorman cohort Adam McKay. Ricky Bobby (Ferrell) is a national hero with a "smokin' hot" trophy wife, pair of borderline-abusively precocious sons, and an endless line of endorsement deals filling his mansion with toys and driveway with sports cars and Hummers. His racing partner and lifelong friend Cal Naughton, Jr. (John C. Reilly), never fails to provide him with a hand on the racetrack, frequently performing their trademark "slingshot" maneuver to shoot Ricky into first place, leaving Cal in second. While the public loves these buddies (popularly known by the meaningless childhood nicknames they find so exceedingly cool: "Shake and Bake"), a wedge comes between the two, as Ricky Bobby's longstanding winning-streak is broken by flamboyand French Formula One driver Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), robbing Ricky of everything in an instant as the trauma leaves him unable to drive. Ricky's wife takes his fortunes while Cal takes his wife, and now he's back with his mother (Jane Lynch) and long-estranged father (Gary Cole). Things look bad for Ricky, but his father was once a race car driver himself, and now with the help of a training montage, a live cougar, and the courage to drive without his gleaming white Wonder Bread endorsement, Ricky might be ready to face the track again. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Review

You can spoil a movie like Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby by saying too much about it, since most of the humor is almost impossible to accurately describe; you either like it or you don't. Fans of Will Ferrell know this brand of comedy well, and they'll find what they're looking for in this movie as Ferrell delivers a solid combination of his stock self-effacing dumbassery and an obvious sense of fun in exploring a new character.

Talladega does seem like it exists in the same universe as Ferrell's last collaboration with director Adam McKay, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, even though Anchorman delivered more in terms of absolute manic hilarity. Where Talladega Nights lacks a vicious street fight between rival news teams, however, it makes up for it with John C. Reilly, a live cougar, and a dead-on satire of the white-trash NASCAR stereotype. A good example of this is Ricky's two young sons bearing the proud names Walker and Texas Ranger, a choice their mother vehemently defends: "If we wanted some wussies, we'd have named 'em Dr. Quinn and Medicine Woman!" The top-flipping, hee-hawing, KFC-is-a-balanced-meal end of the cultural spectrum isn't the only one that gets mocked: Sacha Baron Cohen proves he's capable of evoking laughter without dressing up as Borat or Ali G., as he assumes the role of a gay, French, Formula One driver with an intentionally muddled accent, a Perrier endorsement on his car, and a plan to retire with his husband to Stockholm where they can "design a currency to be used by dogs and cats." Reilly is awesomely funny as Ricky's sidekick Cal, filling the role we might have expected to see David Koechner in, and Gary Cole manages to make you laugh, rather than recoil, even though you can almost smell his dirty wife beater and can of Laughing Clown Malt Liquor. Still, if none of those descriptions sound enticing, this probably just isn't the comedy for you. If you're a fan of the Anchorman/Old School/Zoolander style WillFerrellism, however, Talladega Nights should provide more than adequate entertainment. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Leslie Bibb - Carley Bobby; Jane Lynch - Lucy Bobby; Amy Adams - Susan; Andy Richter - Gregory; Molly Shannon - Mrs. Dennit; Greg Germann - Larry Dennit Jr.; David Koechner - Hershell; Jack McBrayer - Glenn; Ian Roberts - Kyle; Jason Davis - Waffle House Manager; Lorrie Bess Crumley - Schoolteacher; Dick Berggren; Luke Bigham - 10-Year Old Ricky; Austin Crimm - 10-Year Old Cal; Adam McKay - Terry Cheveaux; John D. King - ESPN Reporter; Pat Hingle - Mr. Dennit Sr.; Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Dale Earnhardt Jr.; Houston Tumlin - Walker; Grayson Russell - Texas Ranger; Ted Manson - Chip; Danny Vinson - Texas Ticket Seller; Sylvia G. Lyerly - Texas Ticket Seller; Mike Joy - Mike Joy; Larry McReynolds - Larry McReynolds; Darell Waltrip - Darrell Waltrip; Jamie McMurray - Jamie McMurray; Dan Cox - Bartender; Bob Jenkins - Bob Jenkins; Rob Riggle - Jack Telmont; William Boyer - Rescue Worker; Ruffin Copeland - Doctor; Richard Benjamin - Reporter; Matt Day - Pizza Delivery Boy; Christoph Sanders - Pizza Delivery Boy; Pete Burris - Police Officer; Frank Hoyt Taylor - Frank; Conrad Ricamora - DMV Officer; Angie Fox - Waitress; Jim Wise - Jim Bohampton; Rebecca Koon - Car Wash Customer; Elvis Costello - Elvis Costello; Mos Def - Mos Def; Bill Weber - Bill Weber; Benny Parsons - Benny Parsons; Wally Dellenbach - Wally Dallenbach; Jack Blessing - Jarvis; John Baker - Ted Beamen; Robert R. Lee - Talladega Ticket Seller; Matt Coulter - PA Announcer; Jake Johnson - 5 Year-Old Ricky

Credit

Virginia Randolph-Weaver - Art Director, Andrew Jay Cohen - Associate Producer, Josh Church - Associate Producer, Allison Jones - Casting, Susan Matheson - Costume Designer, Matt Rebenkoff - First Assistant Director, Adam McKay - Director, Spiro Razatos - Second Unit Director, Brent White - Editor, David B. Householter - Executive Producer, Will Ferrell - Executive Producer, Adam McKay - Executive Producer, Ryan Kavanaugh - Executive Producer, Sarah Nettinga - Executive Producer, Richard Glover - Executive Producer, Bryan H. Whisnant - Hair Styles, I. Karl Golden - Location Manager, Bill Bowling - Location Manager, Alex Wurman - Composer (Music Score), Hal Willner - Musical Direction/Supervision, Robert Newcomb - Camera Operator, Chess Jones - Camera Operator, Clayton R. Hartley - Production Designer, Oliver Wood - Cinematographer, Brent White - Cinematographer, Judd Apatow - Producer, Jimmy Miller - Producer, Barbara Mesney - Set Designer, Mark Ulano - Sound/Sound Designer, Andy Gill - Stunts Coordinator, Steve Kelso - Stunts Coordinator, Spiro Razatos - Stunts Coordinator, Garry J. Elmendorf - Special Effects Supervisor, Will Ferrell - Screenwriter, Adam McKay - Screenwriter, Igor Meglic - Second Unit Director Of Photography, Bob M. Scott - Second Unit Camera, Onofrio Nino Pansini - Second Unit Camera, Joseph B. Conmy IV - Visual Effects Supervisor, Wayne Kramer - Additional Music, Melissa Bretherton - Additional Editing, Ty Warren - Production Supervisor, Scott Maginnis - Properties Master, Cate Hardman - Script Supervisor, Courtenay Miles - Second Assistant Director, David Heron - Special Effects Coordinator, Joe Chess - Steadicam Operator, George Anderson - Supervising Sound Editor, James Crawford - Chief Lighting Technician, Butch West - Construction Coordinator, Dana Hart - Costumes Supervisor, Roxanne Wightman - Key Hairstylist, Simone Almekias-Seigl - Key Make-up, Anne Ford - Production Accountant, Digital Dimension - Visual Effects, Casey Hallenbeck - Set Decorator, Michael Hofacre - Visual Effects Editor, The Picture Mill - Title Design, Bridget Cook - Department Head Hair, Steve Artmond - Department Head Makeup

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Wikipedia: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
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Talladega Nights:
The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Adam McKay
Produced by Adam McKay
Will Ferrell
Judd Apatow
Jimmy Miller
Written by Adam McKay
Will Ferrell
Starring Will Ferrell
Leslie Bibb
John C. Reilly
Michael Clarke Duncan
Sacha Baron Cohen
Amy Adams
Jane Lynch
Gary Cole
Music by Alex Wurman
Cinematography Oliver Wood
Editing by Brent White
Studio The Apatow Company
Relativity Media
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date(s) August 4, 2006
Running time Theatrical cut:
108 min.
Unrated cut:
122 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $72.5 million
Gross revenue $162,966,177

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a 2006 United States comedy film about NASCAR racing. The film is directed by Adam McKay, who co-wrote the film with Will Ferrell. The film stars Ferrell with John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Michael Clarke Duncan, Leslie Bibb, Amy Adams, Gary Cole and Jane Lynch. Various Saturday Night Live alumni also make appearances.

Racetrack scenes at Texas Motor Speedway were shot at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, using a Porsche Cayenne outfitted with camera mounts on all four corners of the car.

Contents

Plot

Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) was born to "go fast." He was born in the back seat of his father's car, and raised solely by his mother, Lucy Bobby (Jane Lynch), while his drug addicted alcoholic father, Reese Bobby (Gary Cole), is absent. Many years later, while working on a pit crew as the jackman for a race team, he replaces an uninterested driver and ends up finishing in third place, despite starting mid-race in last place. Ricky quickly soars to the top of NASCAR, achieving fame and fortune at Dennit Racing and meeting his future wife, Carley (Leslie Bibb). He arranges to get his best friend, Cal (John C. Reilly), as the second driver of the team.

Fast forward to a couple of years later; while on top of the racing world, Ricky is challenged by gay French Formula One driver, Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen). Girard outperforms Ricky on the track and becomes Dennit Racing's top driver. Ricky, desperate to regain his dominance, pushes himself too hard and ends up in a spectacular wreck, during which he believes that he is on fire. While recovering, he persists in the belief that he is paralyzed. His tests at Rockingham Speedway show that he has lost his touch and he fails to regain a spot on the team. Carley, yearning to be married to a top NASCAR driver, plans a divorce and a marriage to Cal before Ricky gets home that night.

Ricky takes his two sons, Walker and Texas Ranger and moves back home with his mother. He takes a job as a pizza delivery boy and is reduced to using a bicycle after losing his license (crashing into a sheriff car, then into the sheriff). With his life at its low point, Reese suddenly reenters Ricky's life and tries to teach Ricky to drive by using the fear he experienced. With the retraining and guidance of his father, Ricky regains his confidence, but still refuses to race after Reese walks out. When Ricky runs into his former assistant, Susan (Amy Adams), at a bar, she convinces Ricky to get back into racing at the Talladega 500 and they fall in love. The race ends with all cars being wrecked and Girard and Bobby running on foot to the finish line. Girard then offers to shake hands with Ricky after Ricky beats him, but instead Ricky passionately kisses him. Both drivers are disqualified for violating race procedures and Cal wins the race, having been in third prior to the wrecks. Ricky and Cal repair their friendship and the family, consisting of Ricky, Susan, Walker, Texas Ranger, and Lucy, meet Reese in the parking lot and reunite for a dinner during which they plan to get thrown out of Applebee's.

Cast

Cameos as themselves

Release

Reception

Ferrell at the premiere of Talladega Nights, September 12, 2006.

The film grossed $47,042,215 in its first week, becoming the #1 film at the box office. It is the second-biggest opening weekend ever for an original comedy, after Bruce Almighty, and the biggest opening for a film starring Will Ferrell. As of April 26, 2007, the film has grossed an estimated $162,966,177 worldwide.[1]

The film holds a current rating of 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 66 metarating at Metacritic.

The film has become a cult classic being cited by numerous athletes and musicians. Most recently, Ricky Bobby has become an inspiration for a dance and a hit single by Dallas rap newcomer B-Hamp entitled "Do the Ricky Bobby" in which most of Ricky Bobby's catch phrases are used. The single reached #81 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart and a video was shot in which scenes from the movie are re-enacted by the rapper.

Home release

The film was released on Blu-ray on November 17, 2006 and standard DVD and PSP UMD on December 12, 2006. The menu gives the viewer the choice of Super Speedway (with footage of the film used as intros when special features, scene selection, etc. is chosen) or Short Track (without video intros.) The film is presented on standard DVD in four different configurations, giving consumers the choice between either theatrical or unrated versions and anamorphic widescreen (2.40:1 aspect ratio) or pan & scan presentations. As for the audio, each standard DVD carries Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks in English and French with optional English and French subtitles. Extras for the standard DVD editions include a retrospective '25 Years Later' commentary track featuring most of the main cast, deleted and extended scenes along with bonus race footage, featurettes, interviews with Ricky, Cal, and Carley, a gag reel, a 'line-o-rama' feature with alternate dialogue from the film, and DVD-ROM content. The unrated disc contains additional deleted scenes ("Cal Calls Ricky" and "What'd You Do Today?"), an interview with Jean and Gregory, and commercials. However, the "Unrated & Uncut" DVD omits two scenes and one part that shows that are present in the theatrical version; the scene where young Ricky steals his mother's station wagon, and the scene which shows what happened to Ricky's pit crew. The scenes are not present in the deleted scenes either.

The Blu-ray release is available on a dual-layer disc with the majority of features presented in high definition including: nine deleted/extended scenes, three interviews, gag reel, line-o-rama, bonus race footage, Ricky & Cal's Commercials (However, Cal is not seen in any of the commercials), Ricky & Cal's PSAs, Walker & Texas Ranger, Will Ferrell Returns to Talladega and a theatrical trailer. There are also three extras not presented in high definition: Daytona 500 Spot, NASCAR Chase for the Nextel Cup Spot, and Sirius and NASCAR Spot. In terms of technical aspects, this edition carries the unrated cut and presents the film with an anamorphic widescreen transfer at its 2.40:1 theatrical aspect ratio and includes Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks in English and French and an uncompressed PCM 5.1 audio track in English, along with English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Korean, and Thai subtitles.

The first 1 million 60GB and 20GB PlayStation 3 units included a free Blu-ray copy of the film.

Reaction

In homage to Talladega Nights, NASCAR driver Carl Edwards climbed out of his wrecked automobile and ran across the finish line at the final lap of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Aaron's 499 (at Talladega) to a standing ovation from the crowd. The NASCAR on Fox reporters commented how it was "shades of Ricky Bobby."[2] Edwards was later asked about this on Larry King Live; he responded, "I'm kind of a Will Ferrell fan. He did that at the end of Talladega Nights."[3]

References

  1. ^ "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby". Box Office Mojo. April 26, 2007. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=talladeganights.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-26. 
  2. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=138ckTWQPa4
  3. ^ http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0904/28/lkl.01.html

External links

Search Wikiquote Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
v • d • e
Films directed by Adam McKay

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) · Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) · Step Brothers (2008) · The Other Guys (2010)
v • d • e
Mediocre American Man Trilogy
Films
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy • Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Direct-to-video
Cast and crew

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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