Will Ferrell. Cowbell Guy
Posted on 08/07/2006 7:16:54 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Christian Reviewer Rants About Liberal Hollywood
LOS ANGELES -- Christian film reviewer Ted Baehr is no fan of this past weekend's top movie at the box office.
Web Site: See Baehr's Review The Movieguide.org publisher said Will Ferrell's "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" is "a racist, bigoted work that ridicules the Bible Belt, Southern white men, Christianity, Jesus Christ, the family, and American masculinity."
Baehr said the lead character's mocking prayer to baby Jesus shows anti-Christian bigotry and wonders why Hollywood isn't treating Will Ferrell like it's treated Mel Gibson, who has apologized for his anti-Semitic outburst.
"Don't count on Hollywood (or the news media, for that matter) to condemn and denounce Will Ferrell and his partner, writer and director Adam McKay. And, don't expect any self-righteous liberals to get on their soapbox and say that they will never work with Farrell or McKay, or see one of their movies," Baehr said in his review.
He said that "Talladega Nights" is one of the most "blasphemous, politically correct major movies ever released by a major Hollywood studio."
He continued his rant, saying that Hollywood and the mainstream media stood by silently while Dan Brown and Ron Howard mocked Christian beliefs and Roman Catholic leaders in "The Da Vinci Code" and when Martin Scorsese claimed in "The Last Temptation of Christ" that Jesus was a "mixed-up" and "weak-minded" wimp.
On its Web site, Movieguide describes itself as: ..."a ministry dedicated to redeeming the values of the mass media according to biblical principles, by influencing entertainment industry executives and helping families make wise media choices.
"Talladega Nights" tells the tale of Ricky Bobby, a man who was born when his Daddy was racing his Ma to the hospital and got so carried away by speed that a quick slam on the brakes is all it took to pop little Ricky out, according to TheMilwaukeeChannel.com reviewer Deb Scott. His Daddy takes a powder shortly after he is born, and as a result, Ricky grows up with a hero worship complex and the need for speed.
An emergency at a racetrack where he works pushes Ricky behind the wheel of a NASCAR vehicle in the middle of a race and everything just clicks, including a phrase his drunken Daddy once said to him -- "If you ain't first, you're last." So begins the raucous rise and fall of Ricky Bobby.
Meanwhile, actor John C. Reilly said he had no idea NASCAR was so popular until he made "Talladega Nights."
He was surprised to hear that some fans camp out for days before a race and turn it into an event. Reilly used to wonder why anyone would watch cars race in a circle, but now he said he knows "there's so much more going on than that."
"Talladega Nights" Races Into First Place
"Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" claimed the checkered flag this weekend with a No. 1 finish at the box office.
According to studio estimates, the movie sped away with a cool $47 million.
Rory Bruer, president of distribution for Sony Pictures Entertainment, said the combination of Ferrell and NASCAR was sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Also entering the box office race with a surprising debut was the animated movie, "Barnyard: The Original Party Animals," which came in second.
The NASCAR parody made its big-screen debut in Talladega on Thursday with a free screening a day before it officially opened nationwide.
This movie co-stars Leslie Bibb. It is, therefore, a legitimate work of art and should be praised to the skies. :-)
I had never heard of it, but ended up taking my 15 yo grandson this weekend. It was too much even for him - but more for the gay characters/kissing in it.
Some Catholics pray to the Infant Jesus of Prague. This is one devotion I never got.
Calm down folks. It's just another retarded Ferrell flick.
Wow. What a great impersonation of a whining liberal with a persecution complex.
Most comedy is based on stereotypes. Who cares.
I won't be seeing it.
I can't stand Will Ferrell.
Who was that fat 'comedian' that did nothing but scream. He's dead now.
Similar style . ugh
It did make $47 million in its opening weekend.
Yes we have to handle being made fun of because we are the only ones left that it is ok to make fun of.
The best thing he ever did was more cowbell.
Yeah that was good too, but I prefer the celebrity Jeopardy parodies myself....
Will Ferrell. Cowbell Guy
Chris Farley? He didn't scream all of the time...at least not that I recall....
He was pretty funny too....
OK. THIS one I'll admit we Catlicks do. But somehow I dont think Ricky Bobby is Catlick.
Tommy Boy was good. He didn't scream much, and then to good effect.
I saw it and it has a few uncomfortable moments for Christians. The name Jesus was thrown about quite, no vulger language at all, but some of the references were a bit uncomfortable.
yeah and the motivational speaker parts were hilarious :)
It was just like every loser they brought into an assembly when I was in High School.
I'm able to mimic them pretty well too when my hair is a bit longer.....
Well, Jesus is Jesus, but certainly there are times when many Catholics will picture him as an infant. I do when I'm contemplating the third and fourth joyful mystery.
(For non-CAtholics, the rosary traces twenty stages in Jesus' life, divided into four sections: The Joyous (from the annunication to Mary up through to the Temple), the Sorrowful (the passion), the Glorious (the resurrection) and, lately, the luminous (the public ministry).)
Sam Kinnison?
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