(2006) 3.5 Cammila Collar 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.

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Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

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Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

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Adult Humor
Mild Violence
Profanity

genres

Comedy

sub-genres

Sports Comedy

category

Feature

directed by

Adam McKay

countries

USA

release date

August 4, 2006 (USA)

run time

107 min.

produced by

Apatow Co., Columbia Pictures, Mosaic Media Group, Relativity Media

released by

Columbia TriStar, Sony Pictures Entertainment

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cast

Will Ferrell: Ricky Bobby

John C. Reilly: Cal Naughton Jr.

Sacha Baron Cohen: Jean Girard

Gary Cole: Reese Bobby

Michael Clarke Duncan: Lucius Washington

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

Darrell 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

crew

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