Movie Review: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Year of Release: 2006
Genre: Comedy
Director: Adam McKay
Cast: Will Ferrell, John C Reilly, Gary Cole and others

If you are not first then you are last -Reese Bobby.

Young Ricky Bobby is waiting for his father to show up for the school's career day and talk about what he does. All other kids parents come and talk about their jobs but not Ricky's dad. After a while a totally stoned-on-pot Reese Bobby arrives and starts talking about his job: Part time racing driver and pot dealer. He makes a nuisance of himself and is thrown out of the school. As he leaves the school he advises his son: "If you are not the first then you are last". A statement that stays with Ricky.

When a quirk of fate gives him a chance to drive on the racetrack, he remembers his dads words and wins at all costs. Soon Ricky Bobby becomes a NASCAR stock car racing sensation and a national hero. Along with his loyal racing partner, childhood friend Cal Naughton Jr., call themselves the "Shake" and "Bake" team and always come finish in the #1 and #2 positions.

When everything is going fine flamboyant (gay) French Formula One driver Jean Girard arrives on the scene and challenges the "Shake" and "Bake" team. In the first race Ricky crashes and becomes a nervous wreck. The crash not only makes him lose his health, but also his career, wife and home to his best friend Cal. Devastated he moves in with his mom and starts delivering pizzas on a bicycle.

Reese Bobby once again enters the scene and helps Ricky get out of his nervous breakdown and hit the race track again, where he wins his title, fame and money.

The entire movie is one hell of a comedy with a number of amazing car races thrown in. Dialogues of Reese Bobby and his grand children are funny. Ricky's experience with the Cougar and his driving test all make it one entertaining film. Definitely worth watching once.

One More Drag Racing Fatality

Scott Kalitta an American drag racer who competed in the Funny Car class in the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series met a fiery end today evening when his car exploded after he attained 300 miles per hour. I had embedded a Youtube video of the crash but for reasons best known to Youtube the video is no longer available. I found this AP picture on the website of The Age and thought I'd share it to show the seriousness of the crash.
Racing is a risky sport and like any most other dangerous sports there is a high possibility of losing one's life in this. Even the most experienced racing champions can succomb. It can be due to a technical snag, a human error or any minor mistake. This incidents are scary but not scary enough to deter people from racing or participating in the sport. So long as human race exists extreme sports will continue to exist. It gives an adrenalin rush to us and we will indulge in the sport.