Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (Exclusive Series) (Netflix)

Initial release date: August 4, 2016

Studios: Sony Pictures/Relativity Media/Apatow Company

Tagline: If you’re not first, you’re last.

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

Plot: NASCAR superstar Ricky Bobby is at the top of his game; adored by fans, a trophy wife by his side, and incredible wealth. But Ricky loses it all when French Formula One champion Jean Girard roars into the scene. Ricky, with the help of his ruthless father, must pull himself out of the depths of despair and restore his honor on the racetrack.

Cast

Will Ferrell (Downhill) - Ricky Bobby

John C. Reilly (Holmes & Watson) - Cal Naughton Jr.

Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat 2; Netflix’s Trial of the Chicago 7) - Jean Girard

Gary Cole (Art of Racing in the Rain) - Reese Bobby

Michael Clarke Duncan (Green Lantern) - Lucius Washington

Leslie Bibb (Netflix’s Jupiter Legacy) - Carly Bobby

Jane Lynch (Netflix’s Space Force) - Lucy Bobby

Amy Adams (Netflix’s Woman in the Window) - Susan

Andy Richter (Hulu’s Love Victor) - Gregory

Molly Shannon (Promising Young Woman) - Mrs. Dennit

Greg Germann (ABCs Grey’s Anatomy) - Larry Dennit Jr.

David Koechner (Netflix’s F Is For Family) - Herschel

Jack McBrayer (Ralph Breaks the Internet) - Glenn

Writer(s): Will Ferrell (Netflix’s Eurovision Song Contest)

Adam McKay (Vice; The Big Short)

Director: Adam McKay (Vice; The Big Short)

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, drug reference and brief comic violence (108 minutes)

‘Talladega Nights’ is, surely, one of the funniest Will Ferrell movies he has ever done. There are several scenes scattered throughout that will easily make you bust a gut laughing.

This is also one of those comedies that everyone can quote - like “Shake and bake” and ``I wanna go fast” as pure examples. ‘Talladega Nights’ also shows that both Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are hilarious together (just like they are in ‘Step Brothers’ and they attempted to do in ‘Holmes & Watson’).

This is also one of those comedies that is hard to figure out what the funniest part is! From start to finish, the laughs get better and better. Make you kinda wish they made a ‘Talladega Nights’ sequel!! Also after watching this for the first time in a few years, I actually forgot that actress Amy Adams was in the movie!

So, if you’re looking for a hilarious comedy to watch, catch this hilarious comedy streaming on Netflix. Also available via Vudu and Amazon for $2.99 and YouTube, Google Play and Apple TV for $3.99.

***Here is a quick fact that will make you feel old a little bit - this NASCAR comedy is already FIFTEEN years old!!!

Here are some interesting tidbits about ‘Talladega Nights’:

• Cal, Ricky and Girard were all introduced during driver introductions at the 2005 UAW Ford 500 at Talladega. Ricky and call were cheered, but when Girard was introduced as a driver from France driving the Perrier car, the entire crowd started booing without any prompting.

• Producers pitched the movie idea to studios as “Six words: Will Ferrell as a NASCAR driver.”

• NASCAR officials objected to the original title of ‘Talladega Nights’ and the working title was then changed to the name of the production company, ‘High, Wide and Handsome.’ ‘Loud and Proud’ was also considered. Following a brief phase in which the movie didn’t have a title, the film eventually reverted to the original title.

• The car that Ricky Bobby drives over the course of the movie is a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu.

• The scene where Ricky and Jean run on foot to finish was filmed prior to driver intros for the 2005 Ford World 300 ARCA RE/MAX Series race. The cameras were set at specific angles so they wouldn’t capture the ARCa cars up on pit road.

• Many of the racing scenes were filmed at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC.