Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Director:

Adam McKay

Writers (WGA):

Will Ferrell (written by) &
Adam McKay (written by)

Release Date:

4 August 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

The story of a man who could only count to #1

Plot:

#1 NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby stays atop the heap thanks to a pact with his best friend and teammate, Cal Naughton, Jr. But when a French Formula One driver, makes his way up the ladder, Ricky Bobby's talent and devotion are put to the test.

Plot Keywords:

Racing | Nascar | Friend | French | Car Racing

Awards:

6 wins & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Mar. 12	10:00 PM	TBS
Sat. Mar. 13	2:00 AM	TBS

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Gary Cole	...	Reese Bobby
Will Ferrell	...	Ricky Bobby
Jane Lynch	...	Lucy Bobby
Jake Johnson	...	5-Year-Old Ricky
Jason Davis	...	Waffle House Manager
Lorrie Bess Crumley	...	School Teacher
Luke Bigham	...	10-Year-Old Ricky
Austin Crim	...	10-Year-Old Cal (as Austin Crimm)
Michael Clarke Duncan	...	Lucius Washington
John C. Reilly	...	Cal Naughton Jr.
Adam McKay	...	Terry Cheveaux
David Koechner	...	Hershell
Ian Roberts	...	Kyle
Jack McBrayer	...	Glenn
John D. King	...	ESPN Reporter

Also Known As:

High, Wide, and Handsome (USA) (working title)
Talladega Nights (USA) (working title)
Untitled Will Ferrell NASCAR Comedy (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, drug references and brief comic violence.

Runtime:

108 min | 122 min (unrated version) | Argentina:121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels) | DTS

Certification:

UK:12A | Australia:M | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42008) | Ireland:12A | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (edited version) | Sweden:7 | Finland:K-11 | Argentina:13 | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | UK:15 (DVD rating) | Ireland:15 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:12 | Malaysia:U | South Korea:15 | Denmark:7 | New Zealand:M | Norway:10 (TV rating) | Norway:11 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

Ricky Bobby drives the No. 26 car. When he drives at Rockingham Test Track, Lucius tells Larry Dennit, Jr. that Ricky's speed is 26 mph.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Although NASCAR does allow relief drivers to get in a car after the race is already started. The relief driver must have practiced in a NASCAR Cup car during that weekend at that track of the event. Since Ricky is on the pit crew, he would not have practiced a car and therefore would not be allowed to get in the car for his first race.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Reese Bobby: [Reese is speeding] Guess how fast were going now.
Lucy Bobby: [screams] I don't care, I'm having a baby!
Reese Bobby: Hundred and five miles an hour, you believe that?

Movie Connections:

References "Manimal" (1983)

Soundtrack:

Lit Up

Long Overdue NASCAR Parody

You still get plenty of fast paced action, muscle cars, and massive car crashes. You just get to laugh a lot too.

Will Ferrell really doesn't get enough credit for his acting. As mindless as it seems, he still manages to make it believable. You have to keep in mind it's usually during over-the-top parodies, so it's supposed to be carefree and with complete disdain, yet he still manages to make it intelligent most of the time (at least in this film), so the result is far more than simple fart and gross-out type jokes.

He also had the benefit of writing this film, cast members like John C. Reilly and Sasha Baron Cohen, and a focus for the film in deep need of parody. NASCAR has been long overdue.