Ferrell's NASCAR Movie Called Anti-Christian, Racist

[matcom]

<snip>

LOS ANGELES -- Christian film reviewer Ted Baehr is no fan of this past weekend's top movie at the box office.

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 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.

more.....

http://www.wftv.com/entertainment/9639641/detail.html

[Taverner]

1. Well...that just popped this one up to #1 on my "must see"list

It was a "wait for DVD" until now

Thanks for the rec, Ted!

[LSK]

10. same here

It could be the Steven Colbert of the nascar world.

[Zomby Woof]

2. Maybe I will see this film after all

Just for the prayer to baby jesus alone. :D

[jobycom]

26. That's one of the funniest scenes in the film!

[unpossibles]

3. yeah, there is no difference between satire and calling a cop

rude names.

[ZombieNixon]

4. Now I'm doubly glad I saw it!

:D

[underpants]

5. Oh do tell!

From the bits that I have seen I have to say that while it would seem to be commercial suicide to ridicule the NASCAR crowd I have detected that that might be the big underlying joke here. The NASCAR crowd is odd in that if they did get ridiculed they would whine like a stuck pig BUT they tend not to get satire or irony very much I don't know why that is but they just don't.

I was told at a get together on Friday that Ferrell said that they make fun of his and John C. Reilly's characters but not NASCAR itself or the drivers- I find it hard to do both.

I would not be surprised if Ferrell and his cowriter didn't mean this as a big joke about seeing how much money they can charge NASCAR fans to watch a joke on themselves AND not get it.

Anyway- tell me could the movie just be one big joke on NASCAR and the NASCAR "lifestyle"?

[ZombieNixon]

13. Yeah, pretty much.

I also saw in Freeperville and, well, I won't spoil it for you, but there's a seen at the end that had most of the audience groaning in pain and me laughing my ass off. You could practically hear them thinking "shit, I paid money to see *that*" :wow:

:rofl:

[Fountain79]

15. In Freeperville's defense...

I wasn't necessarily cheering that part you are talking about either. But I thought it was damn funny still.(the movie and that particular part)

[ZombieNixon]

16. Mostly I was laughing at the reaction of the rest of the audience.

:rofl:

[Fountain79]

30. To be honest....

I was turning away and laughing at the same time.

[mark414]

23. they collaborated with NASCAR on the movie...

NASCAR gave it the thumbs up...

[ZombieNixon]

24. So NASCAR can take satire...

perhaps they're having a joke on some of their own fans. :)

[jobycom]

28. It was parody, but it wasn't mockery. It was like Jeff Foxworthy jokes

And don't underestimate the NASCAR fans. Some of us southerners aren't as dumb as we're rumored to be.

[underpants]

32. I live in the south

maybe not the DEEP South but the south non the less (Richmond you know the CAPITAL and all) well I know lots of NASCAR fans and I don't underestimate them, they are PLENTY DUMB!

:evilgrin:

Just kidding. ;-)

No really. O8)

:o

[jobycom]

34. Richmond! That's yankee land unless you are up there, I guess

It's south of New York, at least!

I've known some dumb NASCAR fans. And some dumb chess fanatics. I once taught a friend of mine--a real idiot, too--to play chess. Within a week I couldn't beat him anymore. He went on to beat most of my friends, who were all better than me, too. I quit playing after that. This guy could barely read.

Dumb people are everywhere. So are smart people. Just, smart people don't tend to vote Republican.

[Initech]

6. So they can dish it out, but cant take it, what a surprise!

What a whiny little weiner this guy is!

[LynneSin]

7. You know, I wasn't sure if I was going to see this movie

but thanks to this post, I am now.

Sincerely
LynneSin
A Liberal Christian

[SteppingRazor]

8. Question: How can something be blasphemous and P.C. at the same time?

:crazy:

I mean, isn't the point of the latter to avoid any and all possibility of the former?

[jobycom]

29. You caught that, too, eh? It's very PC to bash PC these days, you know.

His focus group responded strongly to bashing PC, so he worked it into the article, and to Hell with the oxymoron.

[fishwax]

35. but you've got to admit this P.C. crap has gotten out of hand

I mean, when will it be safe to make fun of southern white men again? :rofl:

[jobycom]

36. Well, as a Southern white man

I never miss a chance to bash Yankees. So I see where you're coming from. :rofl:

[fishwax]

37. .

:rofl:
:toast:

[AlCzervik]

9. i thought it was funny "Dear 8 pound 6 oz, Baby Jesus"

[jane_pippin]

11. Oh, it "ridicules" things?

"ridicules the Bible Belt, Southern white men, Christianity, Jesus Christ, the family, and American masculinity."

Hey, dipshit--that's the function of a comedy. It's its job to ridicule things, just like it's apparently your job, Mr. Baehr, to be a total moran devoid of a sense of humor or perspective. Dipshit. :eyes:

[Nickster]

12. How come we never see headlines like "Coulter's latest called treasonous,

libelous, racist, anti-American...." Especially in all those librul media outlets that I keep hearing about? Just asking.

[Fountain79]

14. It's amazing what happens with too much time on your hands...

I thought it was pretty funny, althought I think I would appreciate it more a second time around. It wasn't the fact that this guy was a southerner...it was the fact that he was a moron! It's a role that Ferrell has played in almost every successful movie that he has been in, it's just that this time he has a southern accent. He played a moron in Anchorman, Old School, etc. I mean it's not unusual for a comedic actor to be typecasted in a particular role. The late-great Rodney Dangerfield was the everyman slob in almost every movie he played. Bob Newheart has the same mannerism in many of the movies and T.V. shows that he has been in....but I digress...

If NASCAR fel alright lending it's name to this and even included some of it's own people then apparently they were big enough to take a little bit of a ribbing. You can go to NASCAR'S website they even have a plug for Ricky Bobby's gear.

[judaspriestess]

17. I think having a gay rival in Nascar

as Will Ferrells character does just points out once again how stupid and easily manipulated Americans can be. The Nascar culture is about as anti-gay as you can get. Then they embrace the gay guy cause he can "drive" and win races. Thats one of the points of this movie that stood out to me.

[kwolf68]

39. Well no...

Nascar and the Nascar family has nothing but contempt for gay people (or what they think are gay people). And how he drives had nothing to do with it.

For a looksie on how Nascar treats their family members, do a little research on Tim Richmond.

There will never be an openly gay driver to ever compete in that "sport".

[judaspriestess]

45. have you seen the movie?

of course they (nascar) have a disdain for gay people. That is what the irony of the gay character is. John Girard is cool because he can "drive". thats a quote from the movie. So therefore he is popular in nascar and a star in video games (in the movie). Also Ricky Bobby's crew chief is black. Another abnormality in the nascar world. It's a spoof.

[OhioBlue]

46. Tim Richmond wasn't gay.

He did suffer from Aids but it was probably from the drugs. He got very sick.

I do have to say as much as I am not a fan of Hendrick's, from what I have heard, he has treated the Richmond family very well, and has reached his hand out during local tributes to Tim Richmond. He (or his organization) have been very helpful to get replica cars and/or representatives to attend events.

Tim was before my time... but there are a couple of schools of local thought on Tim... Some idolize him, recant stories of Tim reaching out and inviting them to his private parties when they went to the tracks, signing things for fans and kids, giving a person a helping hand etc. Their are also some that remember him from his "younger" days and recall that he was a spoiled rich kid... either way, he was local, he made it big, and for the most part, we're all proud to claim him as our own. (All of us NASCAR fans)

[ecstatic]

18. aww... the 'Southern white" man is so persecuted! when will it end?!

:cry: :nopity: :eyes:

[Deep13]

19. When one makes a movie to be the definitive movie about Jesus,...

...one has to expect some criticism when it turns out to be an antisemetic snuff film.

Conservative outrage at Hollywood always rings a bit shallow.

[calico1]

20. I wasn't going to see it but if this is true:

"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."

then I could change my mind. Anything the loony right hates must be good! B-)

[meegbear]

21. MovieGuide.org ...

Movieguide is 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.

From the site:

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times noted that both Will Farrell and his writing partner, Adam McKay, the director of this movie, are pretty radical liberals who are angry at the Democratic Party for not being even more antagonistic toward its rivals in the Republican Party. Apparently, that also includes conservative evangelical Christians in the South who support conservative Republicans. To many such secular liberals, bigoted attacks on blacks, women, Latinos, and other so-called minorities are evil, but bigoted attacks on white Southern males, especially Christian ones, are fair game.

<snip>

http://movieguide.org/?s=articles&id=129

[jobycom]

31. Wow, that must be a cheerful job. You aren't allowed to enjoy any movies

Seriously, what movie wouldn't offend a Fundie? Shouldn't the web page just say "Don't go see any movies, you won't like them, and shouldn't like them even if you do."? Seems like it would save time.

I actually agree on one thing. THere is a lot of southern-bashing amongst otherwise decent liberals. But this movie hardly fits that bill, any more than Bob Hope or Jerry Lewis were bashing whites by all the idiots they played in movies.

[mark414]

22. a white guy making fun of other white guys is racist?

don't worry ted baehr! i vow to not rest until the scourge of white on white racism is ended!

[blondeatlast]

43. Have we made no progress whatsoever?

:rofl:

[Telly Savalas]

51. I have a thick skin, so I can tolerate the white-on-white racism,

but for Farrell to stoop to the sexist depths he did by making fun of a man is unforgivable.

[jobycom]

25. WOW! The movie was a riot, but that review is almost funnier!!!

:rofl: OMG, that's hilarious! "a racist, bigoted work that ridicules the Bible Belt, Southern white men, Christianity, Jesus Christ, the family, and American masculinity." It's called satire, it didn't ridicule it, it poked fun, in the same way Larry the Cable Guy and Jeff Foxworthy do!

Oh, jeeze, he's funny! He's more of a parody of the Bible Belt, Southern white men, Christianity, Jesus Christ, the family, and American masculinity than Will Farrel could ever hope to be! Ted Baehr is my choice for the first annual DU Emily Latella Award!

[Jokerman]

27. "How about attending a prayer meeting or a NASCAR race?"

If the reviewer had been in Indy this weekend at the Brickyard, he would have been bombarded by advertisements for this movie.

[SKKY]

33. Why did he say, "...his partner, writer and director Adam McKay."???

Why not say, "...his writing partner and director Adam McKay." What is he suggesting? Am I the only one who
thinks that may not have been by accident, and that the Christian Right always looks for opportunities
to "imply" homosexuality? What are they afraid of? Their own impulses?

[Kat45]

41. I noticed that right away, and I had the same reaction as you.

I also thought they were trying to "imply" homosexuality. And of course that's something they would do.

[izzybeans]

38. Just got back from watching this with my son: semi-spoiler

(he wanted to see race cars-it was a bit too old of a movie for him).

It was a very funny movie for those reasons described as blasphemous. After having to deal with the All-State 400 Nascar race for the past week in the town of my current residence it could not be a more apt description. If anyone has ever been to a race and watched the drivers swagger around you'll understand that this movie doesn't even have to try hard for a laugh. When the announcer on the real Nascar race yesterday emphasized "the surprising intelligence and thoughtfullness" of a racer in that race then perhaps this movie just hits too close to home for some people.

They are just angry because a gay frenchman tongue kissed the Nascar hero; picture Jeff Gordon and Dale Jarret making out (just two of the several "Ricky Bobbie's" spoofed in this move: with Dale Jarret actually making good natured fun of himself-and kudos for that).

[deadparrot]

40. How can a movie be both "racist" and "politically correct"?

:shrug:

Am I reading that wrong?

[chrisau214]

42. Those Are Just Buzzwords

They don't actually have to make any contextual sense. They rile up people who live on the surface and who are incapable of thinking critically.




Chris

[hyphenate]

44. Wow--gee

I think I might have to see it now that the Christian right has denounced it!

[Skittles]

47. meaning it is probably very funny

I like anything that gets the sanctimonious type foaming at the mouth

[OhioBlue]

48. Well....

The publisher of movieguide.org needs to get over himself. He is like the RNC spokesman saying "The American people think..." it is BS.

The NASCAR fans that I know, can laugh at themselves... My boyfriend and I were just recalling our times at races, or race parties and how silly we would seem to anyone else. I actually cried once when Mark Martin blew his engine in the opening laps of the Daytona 500... lol...

to the guy from movieguide...

whatever... :beer: :beer:

Mark Martin rules!!!! wooooo wooooo ........ wooo... woo....

woo

woo

:applause:

[WCGreen]

49. It just looked stupid to me....

And besides, NASCAR is an easy target.....

[Dukkha]

50. How exactly is it "Racist"?

White trash is not a race. They're un-evolved 3rd class citizens and by choice. Give me a break. :eyes:

[Vidar]

52. "Blashpemous & poitically correct?" Not in jebusland.