Post by mleducislander on Aug 7, 2006 0:45:31 GMT -5
No question, this movie will not change your life, but it will change your life for two hours , and isn't that all a summer blockbuster is supposed to do?
I'll confess that I wanted to see this movie as soon as I heard what the pitch was to Hollywood producers. "Will Ferrell...as a Nascar driver." when I heard that Sascha Baron Cohen would be playing his adversary the deal was sealed. For those that don't know what the fuck I am talking about, rent either season one or season two of "Da Ali G Show" and all will become clear.
Will Ferell is an excellent Ricky Bobby in that Will excells in playing imbiciles of different degrees, just he he did in "Old School" and "Anchorman" he and nails the RB character to a "T". The wild card here is Sacha Baron Cohen...given the obviously less sympathetic role to American palates as opposite to Ricky's values and sensibilites...an effete, gay, frenchman able to dominate the "All-American" Ricky Bobby in almost every situation they face, Sacha shows that his forte lies in improvisation and the ability to adapt to any comedic situation that presents himself. Which brings me to another point. The entire cast of this film is excellent, from the scrungy Gary Cole who playes Ricky's Dad, to John C Reilly who plays second Banana Carl Naughton Jr, to the two unknowns that play Ricky's horrible two sons. Everyone plays their part to the hilt and has such esquisite comic timing that the movie is able to operate on many levels and trod turf that would not have been possible with a lesser cast.
The story itself is the classic riches to rags to riches tale and while not exceptional in and of it self is well paced and with enough laughs sprinkled throughout that the film holds together through its entire running time, including the gag reel at the end.
My rating is ****/***** (4 out of 5 stars)
I'll confess that I wanted to see this movie as soon as I heard what the pitch was to Hollywood producers. "Will Ferrell...as a Nascar driver." when I heard that Sascha Baron Cohen would be playing his adversary the deal was sealed. For those that don't know what the fuck I am talking about, rent either season one or season two of "Da Ali G Show" and all will become clear.
Will Ferell is an excellent Ricky Bobby in that Will excells in playing imbiciles of different degrees, just he he did in "Old School" and "Anchorman" he and nails the RB character to a "T". The wild card here is Sacha Baron Cohen...given the obviously less sympathetic role to American palates as opposite to Ricky's values and sensibilites...an effete, gay, frenchman able to dominate the "All-American" Ricky Bobby in almost every situation they face, Sacha shows that his forte lies in improvisation and the ability to adapt to any comedic situation that presents himself. Which brings me to another point. The entire cast of this film is excellent, from the scrungy Gary Cole who playes Ricky's Dad, to John C Reilly who plays second Banana Carl Naughton Jr, to the two unknowns that play Ricky's horrible two sons. Everyone plays their part to the hilt and has such esquisite comic timing that the movie is able to operate on many levels and trod turf that would not have been possible with a lesser cast.
The story itself is the classic riches to rags to riches tale and while not exceptional in and of it self is well paced and with enough laughs sprinkled throughout that the film holds together through its entire running time, including the gag reel at the end.
My rating is ****/***** (4 out of 5 stars)