[Lil'freeper]

Either the author did not watch the whole movie or was too dense to grasp the context and the ultimate lesson at the end of the film. (More likely he took the scenes making fun of tighty-whites tooooooo personally)

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.

[Lil'freeper]

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.

Er, to clarify... Grandma got grounded in reality/common sense.

[bwteim]

Weekend Review by Wall Street Journal's Joe Morgenstern:

"Talladega Nights may be brash, unbridled, even unhinged, but its cornpone humor is rich in parody, and its craftsmanship is superb -- smart writing, shrewd direction, precisely calibrated performances (whether the calibration calls for delicacy or broad-gauge burlesque), inventive language, inspired silliness and all-but-flawless timing. "

[John Robertson]

Great analysis.