"If you ain't first, you're last". These are the words that govern Ricky Bobby's life, from a naive 10-year-old-boy to a 35-year-old professional race-car driver.
Talladega Nights is a spoof comedy about Nascar driving, chasing ones dreams, and trying to get up when knocked down. Directed by Adam McKay (of "Anchorman" and "Step Brothers" fame) we are given an hilarious set-up involving Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby, a man abandoned by his father (Gary Cole) at 10 and living by the motto "If you ain't first, you're last", the last words his father said to him at his school's career day.
Ricky starts off working on the track for the worst Nascar franchise, swiftly changing tyres and enjoying after-work drinks with his crew and best-friend Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilley). His life changes when he takes over from the main driver and races forward to place third in a race. Ricky is not used to the life of a rich star, as can be seen in his awkward post-match interview where he doesn't know how to use a mic and what to do with hands. However, the owner of the franchise signs both him and his friend Cal up as new drivers for the team, and the two start taking Nascar by storm. Ricky wins practically every race, sometimes using Cal to help edge his path to the front. Soon afterwards fame and fortune come easy to Ricky as the sponsorship dollars and women fly in to his path. He develops a cocky, arrogant attitude of the untouchable sports-hero, at the top of his field and without a care in the world. And this is where Will Ferrell places Ricky so well; displaying this cock-sure man who is willing to exploit his best friend to get to the top, yet at the same time revealing a man that, when truly challenged, questions his own ability to succeed and do the right thing.
However, he is given his ultimate foil when Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), the most successful driver in Formula 1, arrives on the scene ready to challenge Ricky's claim to being the "best driver in the world". Baron Cohen plays Jean Girard, a gay Frenchmen who loves Jazz music and reading French novels whilst driving on the track, brilliantly as he, Ferrell and Reilley balance each other out perfectly. Other members of this ensemble include Jane Lynch, Michael Clarke Duncan and Amy Adams.
What makes this a little different from other Will Ferrell comedies (aside from some slapstick jokes and Ferrell's obligatory 'rage' scenes) is that the characters are overall better written, and the cast blends together to give the viewers lots of laughs. The script in this movie is one of the best for a Ferrell comedy, as is the direction from Adam McKay. The racing scenes are also impressively dealt with and could've been made to look hideous, but because this is done properly, it gives the film some level of authenticity.
But what I like about Talladega Nights is the overall message it is trying to portray, that of not just how easy one can rise to fame in sports and experience the high-life, but how easy one can fall from that too. I often sit and marvel at the exorbitant salaries of British football players, or American sports heroes, and how the arrogance seems to rise to extreme levels. Well this movie takes these elements and shows us that we should do something first and foremost for love and enjoyment.
Let the fame and fortune fall where they may...
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