Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby

Will Ferrell’s peculiar brand of humor meets its match in the guise of Sacha Baron Cohen (of Ali G fame) as Jean Girard a gay French race car driver who usurps Ricky Bobby’s (Ferrell) NASCAR title during the situation comedy of "Talladega Nights." If only the filmmakers had given Cohen more scenes in the movie. Ferrell mugs his way through a profoundly goofy script about a wannabe NASCAR racecar driver who makes good on his dream only to lose his life of luxury after getting spooked in a terrible crash during a race. The movie takes a piecemeal approach that allows for several guffaw-inducing comic bits, but doesn’t hold together enough for a sustained comic experience.

Rated PG-13. 110 mins. (C+) (Two Stars)