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Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby By David DiCerto Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- No need to race out and see "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (Columbia), an only fitfully amusing comedy that does for NASCAR racing what "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" did for TV newscasts. Will Ferrell stars as Ricky Bobby, who ever since he was a boy just wanted to "go fast." While working as a pit crew mechanic during a big NASCAR race, Ricky gets to live out his dream when the official driver bails on the team. Ricky wins the race, and quickly rises to the top of the sport, aided by best buddy Cal (John C. Reilly) and a loyal pit crew (led by Michael Clarke Duncan), while cheered on by his wife, Carley (Leslie Bibb) -- who's only interested in him for his fame and money -- and their two children, potty-mouthed brats Walker and Texas Ranger. During a race against a pompous gay French speedster Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), Ricky is involved in a car crash. As a result he loses his competitive edge, then his corporate sponsor and finally his family to Cal. Hoping to get back on top, Ricky enlists the help of his beer-guzzling, deadbeat dad, Reese (Gary Cole), who -- in one of the film's funnier sequences -- helps him get over his fear of driving by making him get into a car with a wild cougar. Ferrell is a gifted physical comedian, but his goofily entertaining performance feels like a pastiche of many of his past roles. There's not much under the hood when it comes to story and the script by Ferrell and longtime collaborator Adam McKay (who also directs) hits plenty of speed bumps in the form of juvenile jokes by turns vulgar, irreverent, or just unfunny. If you're a fan of Ferrell or of NASCAR racing you may choose to make a pit stop to see "Talladega Nights," otherwise you might want to find something else to do with yours. The film contains recurring crude sexual language and humor, a running gag involving a gay character, some irreverent humor and profanity, drug references and comic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. - - - DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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