Resonate Community Church Blog

While I was back home this weekend, Erika and I went to see Talledega Nights. Like Anchorman, The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is about a guy that thinks he’s got a good grasp on who he is and what he’s becoming, only to find that myth shattered and rebuilt into something better. Will Ferrell is great at playing these clueless egomaniacs, and overall the movie is great.

My favorite scene (again, like Anchorman, most of the scenes have a liberal use of ad libs) is the prayer at the dinner table. Ricky Bobby likes to imagine Jesus as the baby in the manger, and prays to him as such. Others imagine him as a ninja, or a figure skater. It’s great to hear these conversations that I grew up with (usually around Thanksgiving or Christmas) finally make it to the big screen.

There’s some flat notes in the movie (Molly Shannon is just annoying), but overall it’s a great movie to just enjoy for pure fun. The ending is unexpected (playing off of cliche movie endings that should fit), and while there are some crude moments, the film has heart. It will easily be quoted (”Help me, Tom Cruise!”). Be sure to stick around for the bloopers and edits during the credits.