Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Will Ferrell, on a bad day, is still funnier than most people on their best. Talladega Nights is the only proof you'll ever need to know that is true. Coming off the huge success of Anchorman, Ferrell and director/co-writer Adam McKay have again created a character more sure of himself than he really has any right to be, and surrounded him with comic foils and setups that dictate a story, instead of a story dictating the characters. This time around, it doesn't work quite as well. While John C. Reilly does a superb job as sidekick Cal Naughton, Jr. and Bobby's kids steal every scene they are in, the pit crew is no Action News Team and Ferrell is left to carry more of the movie than he can. Fortunately for us, he's able to carry enough to make the laughs outweigh the groans enough that we forget them after a few hours.