"Six words: Will Ferrell as a Nascar driver."
This was purportedly the pitch to the studios for Will Ferrell's newest cinematic vehicle Talladega Nights: the Ballad of Ricky Bobby. (Heh. Vehicle. Get it? "Vehicle"?! As in a medium through which something is transmitted, expressed, or accomplished? But also an actual vehicle that one can drive?! Because... NASCAR?!... Wait. I ruined it, didn't I? Damn my tendency to overexplain!)
By the trailer-- which I saw before Superman Returns (Superman! *sigh*)-- many of the scenes look highly improvised-- like one big SNL skit, but better-- by hilarious people who are at their best when they are given free rein. Case in point: Ricky Bobby (Ferrell), after a fiery crash on the track, is running around in nothing but his undies and his helmet screaming that he is on fire. Of course, he isn't on fire, and his crew keeps trying to explain this to him, but he's hysterical. And dude, nothing's funnier than Will Ferrell when he's hysterical:
Ricky Bobby (still running around in a panic): Help me, Jesus! Help me, Jewish God! Help me, Tom Cruise! Tom Cruise, use your witchcraft to get the fire off me!
Seriously, that scene struck me so funny that I laugh every time I think about it. Hee. (See?!) Plus, mocking Tom Cruise is always funny. Because he is way short and beyond strange and attacks innocent furniture and has Katie Holmes and her baby held prisoner in his freaky Scientological compound and must totally die? (Joshua Jackson, where ARE YOU?! Joshua! JOSH! Save them! PAAAACEEEEY!) Seriously, I think that scene has ingratiated itself into my comedic vault, right up there with Ferrell as Gene Frenkle of the Blue Oyster Cult playing that damn cowbell during (Don't Fear) the Reaper. I know, right? That's really saying something! Right?! RIGHT?!
Okay, it's really not. I'm easily amused. It's just a cross I bear, y'all.
But still! FUNNY. But don't take my word for it. I mean, I can't handle that kind of responsibility, I just can't. See for yourself, if you feel so inclined. Go on, do it. Do it. Do it. Do it!... Do it.
That being said, I probably won't see the actual movie (but I might). Hello? The end product is never as funny as the sum of its parts, or the parts of its whole (except when it is), or something to that effect, but whatever! My point is Aristotle be damned! I cannot in good conscience pay money to see this movie (unless I change my mind)! I mean, come on. Will Ferrell as a Nascar driver? Really? REALLY?! Good LORD, people... Say it with me now: What were they thinking?!
12 Comments:
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WILLIAM commented:
I saw the trailer on Tv last week and laughed hystericaly at the part when Ricky Bobby (Ferrel) is saying grace and he thanks the lord for his two sons Walker and Texas Ranger.
Oh and John C Reilley is in it and I think he is great.- » 7/11/2006 9:38 AM
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WILLIAM commented:
By the way over on your other site. I just wathched COTS and it was funny.
- » 7/11/2006 9:47 AM
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Cat commented:
Heh. Don't forget that he thanks "dear lord baby Jesus" for his "red hot smokin' wife, Carly" and she does that little Praise Jesus gesture and is all "Woo!"
Silly. That's what it is. Sheer silliness.- » 7/11/2006 9:49 AM
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Ms. Junie commented:
I was going to write what William wrote. When i saw the trailer at the movies--cracked me up hearing him say thank the Lord for my two sons Walker and Texas Ranger. I'm not sure I'll see the whole movie myself either..but the trailer was great. Sometimes the trailers show you practically the entire film!
- » 7/11/2006 10:52 AM
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commented:
Nope, not gonna pay money to see it in the theater, but when dollar night comes around at the rental place, I'll be all over it. I mean, it's worth a dollar to me to see that prayer again!!
- » 7/11/2006 9:44 PM
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Lowa commented:
I thought he asks "Jewish Guy" to help him, not "Jewish God"?? Since Jesus is Jewish, ya know.
But I may be wrong.
It looks good, but you are right. Nothing to run out and see or anything.- » 7/11/2006 10:26 PM
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Vajana commented:
i'll probably wait and see it on video, but i thought Anchorman was hilarious, and it's all but improvised the entire movie!
- » 7/12/2006 6:03 AM
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Ms. Junie commented:
Cat have you been watching any of Rockstar Supernova?
- » 7/12/2006 8:12 AM
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Not-So-Normal-Mom commented:
I love Will Farell...especially after ELF. I refused to see that movie because I thought it looked to dumn/silly, but when I finally saw it in the comfort of my own home, I laughed my butt off!!!! So, I think I will take my dad and sons to see that movie because they love NASCAR. (And that way I'll have an excuse ;-)
- » 7/12/2006 11:28 AM
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commented:
WHAT?!?!? I've left a coupla comments that never made it on here...that stinks...
Anyways...I won't pay money to see it in the theater, but when the rental place has dollar night, I'll be there to grab this one. 'Cuz hey, just seeing that prayer scene again is worth a buck, right?
And Cat, I LOVED your Ipod mix!!! Show me more!!- » 7/12/2006 9:34 PM
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commented:
Oh, sheesh! I'm a dork...there's my comment. Oh look! There it is again...
- » 7/12/2006 9:36 PM
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Joseph commented:
It was the "red hot smokin' wife" part that made me laugh, especially the "Woo!"
- » 7/13/2006 8:07 AM