Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

In every respect the centerpiece of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's hilarious misfiring fest: a gag cascade from the distant world of NASCAR car racing, carried by lovingly liberal fascination, captured here in CinemaScope with almost "documentary" furor - and whose fans are also regulars of Ferrell films. An abandoned son becomes a NASCAR champion by outgrowing conflicts with his best friend (John C. Reilly!) and a gay, Camus-reading adversary from France (Sacha Baron Cohen!!). In a series of hilarious improvisations, the comedian rivals try to drive each other into a fit of laughter. Cohen's non-stop heavy abuse of accents ("I will be your predateur, Ricky Böbby!") deserves first prize - instead he receives a passionate kiss from his rival at the end. A triumphant overcoming of supposed opposites. (C.H.) "This movie is the real thing. It's finger lickin' good. It's eatin' good in the neighborhood. It's the King of Beers. It's Wonder Bread." (A.O. Scott, The New York Times)

Photo: Austrian Film Museum