SUMMER MOVIE REVIEW
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
By Daniel Newsome

Will Ferrell and Anchorman director Adam McKay reunite in this hilarious film about a famous NASCAR driver who goes from first to worst and then back again. This comedy does well compared to the recent disasters of Ferrell's career such as Bewitched and Kicking and Screaming. Talladega Nights has all of what made Anchorman great comedy. Many quirky characters and a witty insight make this movie hilarious to the end.

Ricky Bobby meets his father for the first time at his school career day where he is told "If you're not first, you're last." Ricky Bobby lives by these words from that day forward. When he finally makes it as a NASCAR driver he quickly ascends to the top of the ranks, accompanied by his best friend, Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly). Ricky Bobby collects all the fame while Naughton Jr. is happy to take second. Soon, Bobby has "smokin' hot wife" and two sons, "Walker and Texas Ranger." Life could not get any sweeter for Ricky Bobby and his family. Then the French Formula One driver Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen) enters the circuit. Ricky Bobby suffers major psychological injuries from wreck that happens while trying to overtake Girard. This leads to a hilarious scene of Bobby being convinced he is paralyzed from the waste down and constantly on fire. Bobby finds his way to recovery through the help of his father who teaches him to conquer his fear by driving with a live cougar in the car, among other things. Through a funny sequence of events, Bobby makes it to the Talladega 500 to face Jean Girard. The race is as fast paced as it is funny. The movie concludes with a series of outtakes that are some of the funniest moments of the film so keep your seat until you see them.

I gave Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby 4.5 out of 5 Georges.

This is the funniest move of the summer without a doubt. Will Ferrell offers a hilarious performance as Ricky Bobby supported well by the absurdly funny minor roles present in the film. This is definitely a must see for anyone who loved Anchorman or Old School.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, drug references and brief comic violence.

V for Vendetta

New on DVD, V for Vendetta is an adaptation of a popular comic book. Produced by the matrix trilogy's Wachowski Brothers, V for Vendetta has a dark persona that conveys the lack of freedom in the setting of a futuristic Britain.

I gave V for Vendetta 4.5 out of 5 Georges.

After a plague killed thousands in Britain, in the not too distant future, the curer was proclaimed "High Chancellor." No more queen, no more Parliament. Basically a fascist U.K. The only television stations are owned by the government. Censorship is enforced rigorously. Early in the film, the high chancellor bans the 1812 Overture. It is clearly understood in the first ten minutes of the film that this place is a horrible place to live. Soon after the viewer gets that message, a Guy Fawkes masked revolutionary known only as "V" shows up to change things. In his first appearance, V saves the life of Evey (Natalie Portman), as she is walking out past curfew. He introduces himself in a most literary and educated exhibition of "v words." Shortly thereafter, we, along with Evey and the rest of London, learn of his plot to liberate his people by blowing up the British Parliament and Big Ben as Guy Fawkes tried to do on the 5th of November centuries ago. The rest of the movie plays out as the year passes and V gains support, gets revenge and develops a friendship with Evey.

This film is a wonderful Action/ Adventure/Science Fiction movie. Some might say that its political overtones are a bit strong for the current season of our nation but if ignored and viewed only as a movie, and nothing more, it is quite enjoyable. Although we never see his face, Hugo Weaving does a wonderful job portraying the man, V behind the mask, as does Natalie Portman as Evey. The directing and writing are both as equally flawless. I got the feeling of actually being involved with the movie, which is the sign of a truly wonderful movie.

Make sure and rent this in town at Movie Gallery on E. Robert Toombs.

MPAA Rating: R for strong violence and some language.

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