Being British I have to admit that NASCAR is not a sport I am particularly familiar with beyond knowing of its existence. If it is televised here I have never watched it and am unlikely to. Racing is just not my thing.
Talladega Nights is set in the loud, overblown world of NASCAR Racing but it targets its humour not at the peculiarities of racing but of sports and sports movies imparticular. You need not be a fan of racing to enjoy it, the humour works on its own merits.
Will Ferrell plays Ricky Bobby, the sport’s hottest and most obnoxious driver. Racking up win after win, Bobby lives by the creed that “if you’re not first, you’re last” and is enjoying the fruits of his success. Living in a massive and overstated mansion with a supermodel wife, he is your stereotypical nouveau riche sports star. Think David Beckham in a baseball cap.
For Ricky Bobby, success is a way of life so when his team’s owner hires a talented, flamboyantly gay French racing driver to join the team (hoping to humble his star racer) he feels threatened. Pushing himself too hard in the race, he is involved in a horrible accident and loses all confidence as a driver.
The film follows his journey as he loses everything and, in typical sports movie fashion, has to regain his racing mojo. There are a couple of fun twists on the typical formula of such films but the funniest scenes take place outside of the car and in Ricky Bobby’s homelife. Highlights include a hilarious grace scene where Ricky Bobby insists on praying to the “tiny, newborn infant Jesus” and the scenes where he confronts former best friend Cal for stealing his life.
Will Ferrell is supported with good performances from the ensemble, including Sacha Baron Cohen, Gary Cole, Amy Adams and John C. Reilly who is excellent as the warm but slow-witted Cal Naughton Jr.
Talladega Nights is not a groundbreaking film but it has a number of big laughs and some wonderfully overblown performances. Ferrell’s strong performance is matched by John C. Reilly’s turn as Cal who not only shows good chemistry with the star but also excellent improvisional skills, riffing beautifully in a number of scenes. Sacha Baron Cohen is also a lot of fun as sneering rival Jean Girard, stealing a number of scenes.
It loses its pace and sharpness a little as it nears the finish line falling foul of a few too many sports movie cliches, yet by that stage I had enough goodwill towards this unexpectedly charming movie not to mind.