Posted on 08/08/2006 1:05:33 AM PDT by balch3
AgapePress) - Although funnyman Will Ferrell's new movie, Talladega Nights: the Ballad of Ricky Bobby, finished first at the box office this past weekend, the comedy was not a winner as far as Christian movie reviewer Ted Baehr is concerned.
Baehr, publisher of Movieguide.org, is waving the yellow flag over the film about a dim-witted NASCAR racer with a gung-ho, win-at-all-costs attitude. According to Associated Press (AP) reports, the Christian media reviewer describes Talladega Nights as "a racist, bigoted work that ridicules the Bible Belt, Southern white men, Christianity, Jesus Christ, the family, and American masculinity."
The Movieguide review of Talladega Nights describes the film as "politically correct," in that it ridicules faith, family, traditional values, Southerners, white males and other ideas and groups that are fair game to those who share typical liberal notions of what is "PC." The review also notes that Ferrell's movie contains "lots of blasphemous and borderline laughs," along with "strong sexual references, excessive foul language and strong homosexual content."
Baehr is particularly incensed over Talladega Nights' satirical references to Christianity, such as the lead character's prayers to "baby Jesus" and his "running around ... mocking God" at different points in the film. "A couple of scenes in the movie are just extremely blasphemous," the movie analyst observes; yet he feels this kind of anti-Christian bigotry gets a pass in Hollywood, while other kinds of religious bigotry are denounced.
Baehr points to the recent incident involving producer, director and actor Mel Gibson and the anti-Semitic remarks he allegedly made during his arrest on suspicion of drunk driving. "If we take the position that what Mel Gibson said is religious bigotry," the Christian film reviewer contends, "then [much of the content in Talladega Nights] is religious bigotry too."
It is a simple case of "what's good for the goose is good for the gander," Baehr insists. "You need to be balanced in all of this," he says. "Now, if we're worried about Mel Gibson apologizing for his anti-Semitism, I think it should be equally just for Will Ferrell to apologize with his writing partner for his anti-Christian bigotry."
Although Talladega Nights did well with moviegoers this past weekend, Baehr believes the movie will probably be overtaken and passed when the more meaningful and faith-affirming film, World Trade Center, debuts this Wednesday. He predicts that next week, the fact-based film on the 9/11 disaster will replace Ferrell's anti-Christian comedy as the nation's number-one movie.
At least it wasn't a cartoon depiction of muuuhamhead (Pigs be inseminating him)!
Proof why satanic Hollywood should be ground zero for the doomsday asteroid/comet.
Why anyone would pay to see a Will Ferrell movie is beyond me. His schtick, while sometimes funny on SNL (I saw a few minutes here and there) is so OLD.
The movie is near-perfect, and actually very sweet, in places. If giving people Southern accents (uh, 'cause they're playing Southern characters?) is making fun of them, then you got me.
It's a BROAD comedy. For all the complaints we might have about the content of movies these days, think of how horrible they would be if bozos like this guy Baehr were in charge. This is one of those guys who either MUST find something to denounce and be offended by, because otherwise he won't have his (self-created) job, or he never saw the movie in the first place.
The audience I saw it with was teenagers, middleagers and oldsters, and they were laughing their butts off, for most of the picture. Either they were a cross-section of middleclass America, or I somehow wandered into the Great Sinners Only showing at the Cineplex.
Anytime a movie makes you laugh so hard your face hurts, and you leave feeling pretty good overall about things, then it wasn't bad or "evil."
If these Christian film critics hated this movie, it must be better than I thought.
See #5.
I saw it. These Christian film critics need to stop wearing starched underwear and stop living by the book and have fun once in a while. Life is too short to be trying to live as rigidly as they live.
Agreed, Big-time.
Let me tell you, I accidently went to a "Great Sinners Only Showing" once, I had to bathe in Holy Water. You didn't want to know what The Lion King was doing to bambi.
Stop living by the Book? No way Jose.
Stone him! Stone him!
You will find some of the Freeple on this thread would be very comfrotable in Saudi Arabia. Heck, they might even sign up to be the moral police.
As a kid, I thought Amos and Andy was funny, and to this day I wonder why some found it offensive. Were they poking fun at black people or did they have funny characters who were black? Eddie Murphy seems to make far more offensive characterizations than Amos and Andy did, yet his humor is accepted and "edgy."
Andy Griffith plays to southern stereotypes, but no one complains about Ernest T Bass.
If you went to see this movie to be entertained, you probably were. If you went to this movie to be offended, you probably were. Funny how that works.
Incidentally, I've seen comments that this particular photo may be a Photoshop. I doubt it but anyone with conclusive evidence please let me know. It certainly is in CHARACTER with Hillary's Leftist/NARAL/Planned Parenthood stance....
Ping.
ping
Well said.
The Christians who want to break down the church / state barriers of separation and start legislating what people are to do are exactly the same as their Sharia enacting brethren in the Islamic world.
Same mentality and, if enacted, same barabric, backward-looking result.
The entire reformation was about a personal relationship with God and individualism and not the political authority of the Catholic Church.
I am honestly not sure if there is really much of a difference between selling indulgences and using self-righteous pomp to sell newspapers.
These battles to save the hearts and minds of children to set them upon the path of good moral citizens don't exactly start in the movie theater either.
Lastly it should be remembered that it is not up to Ministers (like some smaller version of the Papacy) to dictate what entertainment the flock can and cannot watch, hear, see.
That could easily describe Islam.
Please be so good as to point them out to us as they pop up, ok?
I have been here over 5 years and have yet to find any on FR who would "be very comfrotable in Saudi Arabia."
I agree. the reviewer has got his panties all bunched up, and forgot to take his Metamucil.
Skooz, you either take everything literally or have not been paying attention for 5 years.
There are individual who post at FR who consistently advocate theocratic-like policies.
Call me a libertarian (and you are welcome to) but I see very little light between the people who want to tell me what to do in the privacy of my own home here and the Saudi vice-police. If given power, they certainly would do the same thing.
Dale's (#3) Mama don't like it. Case closed!
Fatwa! Fatwa!
NASCAR lost me when they stopped using 'Stock Cars'. Before that I really enjoyed the fact that my '67 Satellite was basically the same car, stripped, doors welded shut, single seat, that Petty was driving.
As far as the religious aspect of the film. If you dont like movies that might be blasphemous to you then stay home. I never liked Will Ferrel, so I don't plan on seeing it.
I don't mind movies that make fun of Southerners. Goodness knows we have had enough of those. If the Blue Collar group proved anything, it's that we can laugh at ourselves, unlike other demographic groups. When is someone going to make a movie that makes fun of limo libs is what I want to know? I also would like to see at least one movie that depicts Southern Christians as salt of the earth people, not deluded idiots. I have seen lots of movies that depict liberals in a positive light, though.
actually I found the commercials a real turn off because it is portrayed as a direct race based insult comedy on white nascar men.
(those guys that never came through for the democrats)
It is a hollyweird wet dream of what the left believes is athe moron nascar fan.
If this had been a black based "comedy" the naacp would be screaaaaaming like maniacs.
and no I have not seen the film, just the commercials they used to try and persuade me t see the film. It persuaded me not to want to see this movie.
(of course there is always moviespoiler.com to give the cold summary of a movie too.)
Aren't those military folks with her on the right side of the picture? It would have to be photoshopped. I mean I don't think she would be holding that shirt at a military visit. The military would never allow it. If that is not a military gathering than of course the shirt could be used and maybe an accurate picture. Another thing, I can't imagine Hillary being that stupid to hold up a picture that says "abortion tickles". She is too smart to ruin her Presidential aspirations over a stupid shirt. I hate her, but I don't underestimate her either.
Neither.
There are individual who post at FR who consistently advocate theocratic-like policies.
Name one.
I see very little light between the people who want to tell me what to do in the privacy of my own home here and the Saudi vice-police.
1. No one is telling you what to do in the privacy of your home.
2. Even if someone were trying to tell you what to do in the privacy of your home, they will not hang you for your "offenses." Thus, these imaginary beings are nothing at all like the morals police in Saudi Arabia.
If given power, they certainly would do the same thing.
You have failed to identify who "they" are. I assume you mean those who voice their opposition to anti-Christian bigotry in Hollywood. If that is the case, your statement is categorically false.
Nothing different in this movie and your average tv commercial. They all make the same groups out to be dim witted imbicles.
It seems this author needs to get his wig loosened a bit. We can't laugh and poke good natured fun at one another anymore?
From what I saw, this was nothing but good slap stick comedy. Not my favorite, but I laughed until I almost wet myself at times.
I have been around here long enough to know not to name names, so your baiting is appreciated, but I certainly will not bite.
First, this Ferrel guy gives Elfs a bad rep, and now he stars in a movie doing the same to Christians. Oh yeah, he made Human men look pretty silly in Bewitched also.
LLS
Baiting?
On my planet it's called a challenge to back up your BS.
You obviously are unable to do so, proving your allegations to be without merit and just the figments of your paranoia.
I love funny movies and there is a shortage of very funny, side splitting movies...
Thx for the tip. I will go watch it.
Just because I am paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
Did you read my tagline? of course I am paranoid. Duh!
Speaking of NASCAR, anybody know if one of the TV networks ever sent 'Middle Eastern looking' men to NASCAR events to film other attendees's responses? Remember that thread?
Yes, Ricky Bobby thanks Dear Baby Infant Jesus Lord for the pizza, his foul-mouthed children, and his smokin' hot wife. He is set up as the ultimate bad example for his family, as someone who puts on a great churched-up show but has a stunted understanding of the Christian life. (Maybe this hit home for the author, too...)
Later, when his world comes crashing down and he moves in with his mother, his mother institutes GRANNY LAW. GRANNY LAW introduces discipline into the lives of Ricky Bobby's feral children and gets them into church for a proper formation. That the author failed to notice that speaks volumes.
I really appreciated the Grandma character. She was one who led a wild youth (running with deadbeats, loose morals) but finally grew up, learned from her life's hard lessons, and got grounded.
I am a huge fan of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
Considering this next one is also a "legend" I am also looking forward to seeing it on DVD. Can't see it in the theatre, because it will be in German only. And comedies just don't translate well, despite the fact that the Germans are so well known for their humor.
"Baehr believes the movie will probably be overtaken and passed when the more meaningful and faith-affirming film, World Trade Center"
Funny that the author thinks that anything by Oliver Stone is 'faith-affirming'. I have yet to have my faith affirmed by any of the scum of Hollywood.
+1
I laughed so hard I literally almost lost control of my bladder. :D
IT isn't just Christianity being made fun of - it is the actual intended market that the producer was intending to make fun of. The whole movie makes fun of Christianity, southerners, white men, and generally every other thing that makes up the stereotypical NASCAR fan. Yet that is the exact target audience, and apparently that same group is eating it up.
Maybe some of the suggestions in the film about NASCAR fans is true....????
Er, to clarify... Grandma got grounded in reality/common sense.
Give it a rest.
It's definitely Photoshopped.
See how she's holding the shoulders of the shirt, so the neck and upper chest sag a bit?
The logo's not sagging.
Either it's a metal plate with the logo printed on it, or it's been placed, none too smoothly.
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