Ferrell's NASCAR Movie Called Anti-Christian, Racist

[Kadie]

Ferrell's NASCAR Movie Called Anti-Christian, Racist
Christian Reviewer Rants About Liberal Hollywood

POSTED: 8:56 am PDT August 7, 2006


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."

more...
http://www.kcra.com/entertainment/9639641/detail.html

[meganmonkey]

1. I can't wait to see it

and neither can mistermonkey's Christian, redneck, Nascar-loving extended family

}(

[Dervill Crow]

41. Me too, now that I've read that review! n/t

[Freedomofspeech]

47. Don't miss it...

My husband and I went to see it today, and it is hilarious. We laughed the entire time, but many of the people weren't finding the humor we did. I am sure it wasn't what they expected to see. I think much of the satire went totally over their heads. I hadn't read any of the flack about it, until just now. I knew the bushites would be annoyed by it, and that makes me so very happy.

[bananarepublican]

102. How about a little teaser... pleeeze...

I saw Will a few weeks ago promoting this film on Leno (I think, maybe Conan). Just the lead character's name made me laugh! "Ricky Bobby"!!!

[rainbow4321]

67. The movie is better than the previews...

At least I thought so..you know how most comedy movies show the funny parts in the previews so by the time you see the actual movie, there is nothing to laugh at cuz you have seen the previews for months? This movie was funny the whole time, w/ tons of stuff not shown in the previews. I bet it will do even better in the coming weeks from people telling other people to go see it.

[Jo March]

71. It was better than the previews

Went to see it with some friends and we laughed the whole time. It was well worth the money.

I'm not really in to NASCAR but I'm only a few miles from a major NASCAR speedway so I understand the fans. The theater was filled with people from this area and the whole theater was laughing hysterically.

I didn't find it racist or anti-Christian. In fact, his family sat down for dinner together and had a prayer. Yeah, that's anti-Christian.

Go see it. It's hysterical.

[thefool_wa]

85. Three posts and I'm ready to see it!

Check it out:

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."

I saw those previews and, I gotta say, I kinda figured that was the whole point of the movie.

maybe it was just me...

[ck4829]

2. These people can't grasp humor

[NastyDiaper]

3. "blasphemous, politically correct.." ?

[Kadie]

24. LOL

I'm still ROFL over that one.

:rofl:

[Recursion]

35. It's only funny to us

I've met quite a few people who seriously think that "political correctness" (which they never can define) is -- and I'm serious here -- an insidious plot by Satan to keep good Christians from telling it like it is.

[NastyDiaper]

116. Using your religion to morally justify that you are inherently better..

..than someone else is exactly what the conservative right is all about.

Tolerance is weakness to them.

And that is why I dislike almost every Republican I know. Yes, even the ones who are just plain too dumb to know better.

So call me a hypocrite, and smack me with a raw mackerel;

But I do feel emboldened, knowing that a Democrat is simply a better person than a Republican.

[louis-t]

49. That made me laugh, maybe they meant to say

politically incorrect?

[LittleClarkie]

54. Indeed, if it were politically correct they'd have never made jokes

about religion at all.

[Lorien]

75. He obviously doesn't understand the term "politically correct", nor does

he grasp the concept of SATIRE. Typical repuke. :eyes:

[Melynn]

99. Indeed

I saw the movie. Here's a clue for the fundies. It's comedy.

[Guaranteed]

104. Nope. Their frame of reference must be pretty screwed up. nt

[Elidor]

4. After a review like that, I gotta see it

It sounds much better than I dared hope.

[Kadie]

17. I will have to make sure I see it now,

thanks to Ted. I have to find out just what he is talking about.

:rofl:

[Lance_Boyle]

5. I, for one, believe that

"American masculinity" is long overdue for a little ribbing. You know... for her pleasure.

[Kadie]

18. ROFL

:rofl:

[me b zola]

34. .

:spray:

[Monk06]

46. Well Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G, Borak) plays a racist, gay, Arab driver

from what I heard. So yeah the macho, hetero
Islamfascist hating, patriotic white Nascar
male is taking a pretty big hit in this one.

[Jo March]

72. There was a gay driver who was French

but I don't recall a racist, gay, Arab driver. :shrug:

The French driver actually earned the respect of Ricky Bobby in the end.

[Monk06]

115. Haven't seen the movie. Just read that in a review of the new Borak movie

[Guaranteed]

106. French, even. nt

[BOSSHOG]

6. An official NASCAR Tampon - Politically correct?

Christian film reviewer having trouble with a gay guy who drives in the NASCAR circuit? I would suggest that the christian film reviewer tell his audience not to watch the fucking movie if its truisms will hurt the boo boo of the touchy feely world of christian hate America. I so love the live entertainment when some fucking constitution hating "christian" gets his panties in a wad while a citizen of the land of the free.

[NC_Nurse]

109. "the boo boo of the touchy feely...

world of christian hate America". ROFL!

Tell it, BOSSHOG! :D

That was spot on!

[otohara]

7. LOL -

I thought wingers loved "make fun of other stupid people" type humor.

Drew Carey, Everybody Loves Raymond, South Park, and others come to mind.

[dave123williams]

8. Thank god we've got Ted defending the White Man.

[Dhalgren]

9. Ok, these are apples and these are oranges. Now compare...

[Dhalgren]

10. Ooops, dupe

[TexasLawyer]

11. I saw it last night

LOVED it!

Especially loved Ricky Bobby's gay, French, "Formula Une"-driving, Camus-reading nemesis, Gerard.

[jackster]

37. I saw it too....

funny funny funny

when Ricky Bobby cried out during the imagined fire scene - "Help me Allah! Help me Tom Cruise! Help me Oprah Winfrey!" I thought I would wet my pants

[WindRavenX]

64. fucking HILLARIOUS

"I will put you in a microwave"
:rofl:

[LostinVA]

88. Played by "King Julien" -- my fav animated movie character!

[slackmaster]

12. That settles it for me

I definitely want to see it now.

[Rude Horner]

13. Earth to Ted

It's a fucking movie. What Mel Gibson did was NOT in a movie, it was during a drunk driving arrest. Do we need to explain to you the difference between fiction and non-fiction?

Something tells me ol' Ted here has a few skeletons in his closet. He doth protest too much.

[BOSSHOG]

You aren't suggesting

that ted likes to lay with men? It does seem that those who protest too much do so to cover up; but Oh my how it doesn't work. Why he would be aghast to know that a former NASCAR drive died of Aids and that death had nothing to do with a fictional movie. Whine christians, whine.

[acmejack]

38. That particular NASCAR driver was definitely hetrosexual.

Assuming you are talking about Tim Richmond.

[kurth]

14. And Baehr accepted payment for promoting six movies that he

positively reviewed in his magazine Movieguide. (Christianity Today article, March 2004)

[Junkdrawer]

15. Mrs. Junkdrawer & son want to see it again...hysterically funny...

I haven't see it yet but may go this coming weekend.

[mmonk]

16. They love to make fun of others and slam others

but don't seem to like it when they are joked about or made to look foolish.

[Chimichurri]

19. wait. If this movie is blasphemous, then wouldn't it then be

politically INcorrect?

He said that "Talladega Nights" is one of the most "blasphemous, politically correct major movies ever released by a major Hollywood studio."

Blasphemy according to this genius is politically correct. Ok then.

[Scribe]

32. Blasphemy is a victimless crime n/t

[azurnoir]

45. Oh no it's not

Just think about poor baby Jeebus, and the children, the children........

[Fleshdancer]

20. WHEN will they learn?

Bash a movie like that and people will flock to see it. :rofl:

[patdem]

29. We live in a BIZARRO world now...maybe he was paid to flog the movie?

Stranger things HAVE happened. He is a whore after all!

[Vinnie From Indy]

21. This condemnation means the movie will be EXCELLENT

Ferrel and McKay should use his condemnation in their ads for the movie. The theaters will be swamped.

[liberalmuse]

22. Racist?

Okay, the following makes me really want to see the movie:

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."

Am I wrong?

[cgrindley]

23. True on all charges

I loved it.

Ridiculed the Bible Belt. Ridiculed Southern white men. Ridiculed the Baby Jesus big time. Ridiculed American masculinity. Etc.

It was awesome at points, but a little draggy on others.

If you really want to see the debate, go to imdb and take a boo at their message boards.

[Cleita]

25. Funny, how outraged redneck men get when they are the

object of racism, sexism and religious profiling. Yet, they see nothing wrong when they do it to brown people, women and Muslims.

Actually, I take my humor where I can get it even if it's my expense as a Hispanic and a woman, if it's really funny. But I will laugh as hard even if it isn't at my expense.

Now that's a movie I didn't plan on seeing but maybe I will now.

[xchrom]

26. there's that fictitious war on christians again.

ted baehr is a tapeworm.

foaming at the mouth and telling lies as fast as his fingers can move across the keyboard.

i hope you choke on your hate and paranoia ted.

[cgrindley]

33. In this case, it's not a fictitious war at all

It's good old fashioned mean-spirited social satire. And a hoot to boot.

[xchrom]

84. any thing that pokes fun of or satirizes christians

is part of their ''war on christians''.

it's a fictitious work they've been floating since before christmas in 05.

the phrase is real. for them.

[cgrindley]

87. Really is part of an organized and concentrated attack on X'ians

and so what if it is?

[MrSlayer]

27. I had no desire at all to see this until now.

If it pisses off the fundies, it has to be doing something right.

[sinkingfeeling]

28. Why do these 'Christian' film reviewers take everything so seriously?

Doesn't Mr. Baehr know that "Talladega Nights" is a goofy, popcorn movie?

"A check-your-brain-at-the-door comedy, Talladega Nights is the story of champion NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby. Ricky grew up adhering to the motto ‘if you’re not first, you’re last,’ something taught to him by his beer-guzzling dad." says Rebecca Murray.

http://movies.about.com/od/talladeganights/fr/talladega080306.htm

[cgrindley]

36. Well, cause they believe in that crap?!

It's not all that goofy. It's pretty earnest.

Whoever this Rebecca Murray is, she really didn't get the film.

Don't get me wrong. I *liked* its message. As far as a film goes, it was only a 6/10, about as good a creation as Pirates II or Superman Returns.

[Strawman]

30. Must be why I enjoyed it

[YOY]

31. why Hollywood isn't treating Will Ferrell like it's treated Mel Gibson?

Because, most of us really can't stand Rednecks...

[AX10]

39. I can't wait to see it!

:kick:

It seems the reich wingers can't take people not kissing their sorry redneck asses.

[obreaslan]

40. "Baehr said the lead character's mocking prayer to baby Jesus ...

shows anti-Christian bigotry..."

*snort* :spray:

Thanks for reminding me about one of the funniest scenes in the film. If you liked Anchorman, you'll like this. :)

STAY CLASSY...

[wtmusic]

42. It's funny as hell

Get used to it, Middle America. Two men kissing.

:thumbsup:
:thumbsup:

[itzamirakul]

43. i am so glad to read this review because when I first saw the trailer

and saw that it was about NASCAR, I thought right away that Farrell had "sold out" and was playing to the rw. I had decided that no matter how much I liked his movies in the past, that I would not see this one. Now Baehr has changed my mind for me. Not only will I go to the theatre to see it, I will also buy a copy of it, especially if I see a bootleg copy. :hippie:

[MrPrax]

44. "denounce Will Ferrell and his partner"

LOL...

"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.

What IS this creep implying? Can't imagine... :eyes:

[originalpckelly]

50. Yeah, uh, he is married to a HOT Swedish model...probably hotter...

than Mr. Dumbass's wife.

[MrPrax]

61. Well yeah...

He was doing the circuit last week on TV -- I forget which one, Leno or Stewart, and he was saying he spends his vacation 'down' time in Sweden and made a few jokes about it.

He is a lefty type of guy (his Bush stuff on SNL was vicious at times..."Where are all the adults?" is a classic) -- but I thought that this was a rather 'awkward' way of mentioning his Producer.

The editor didn't seem worried that it might be taken the wrong way -- which I presume it was suppose to be for the people likely to be influenced by such drivel.

[WernhamHogg]

103. That jumped out at me, too.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed the strange wording in that sentence. Probably should have been "his writing partner" rather than "his partner, writer". No doubt that was purposefully worded that way to imply something about Farrell.

[loves_dulcinea]

48. well, goddamn....

it sounds like will ferrel finally made a good movie. :D

[scarletwoman]

51. Racist? When a white man makes fun of other white men it's RACIST?!?!

Among the innumerable outrages perpetrated on our society and government by the right wing, the distortion of language is one of the most grievous.

They twist and distort words until they lose all coherent meaning. They turn meanings inside out, perverting the meanings of words to indicate the polar opposite of what those words originally signified -- like equating liberalism with "fascism".

It is one of their most serious crimes, the crime against language.

sw

[melnjones]

52. My Christian friends who have seen it

thought it was HILARIOUS. My housemate told me about the prayer, which made me definately want to see the movie...and I'm studying to be a minister for crying out loud. People need to chill and take themselves a tad bit less seriously.

[longship]

53. I absolutely hate the trailer.

It looks like the type of movie that I would absolutely abhor.
I don't like Will Ferrel at all.

But since the Xtian wackos love it so much, I might just have to go see it.

[jsamuel]

55. um, how can one be both "racist" and "politically correct"?

This is irrational.

[Eric J in MN]

92. I guess he'd say that racism against white men is "politically correct."

I'm not saying I would agree, or that the Will Ferrell movie is racist agaisnt white men.

[Bluebear]

56. 'a racist, bigoted work that ridicules the Bible Belt' WAAAAAAHHH

It's OK to be calling us New Englanders godless, latte sipping, sushi eating, Volvo driving elitists, but Ricky Bobby Joe Ray gets a little sensitive when the favor is returned? O8)

[Hamlette]

57. he's mad because the movie doesn't pay homage to the moral superiority of

Christians.

He actually says that.

My favorite part:
"
The message of the movie becomes even more clear after the credits, just in case viewers missed it. At the end, the movie shows the protagonist’s mother finishing reading a William Faulkner story to her two grandsons. The grandsons, who have been taught manners by their grandmother, discuss the meaning of the story with her. The grandmother says that the story is meant to generate both relief and sadness at the coming end of “the Old South.” “Ah,” replies one of the boys, “moral ambiguity, the hallmark of 20th Century American literature.”

In other words, this politically correct movie not only celebrates the ridicule of white Southern Christian males, it also ridicules Christianity’s belief in moral absolutes. Apparently, Will Farrell, who co-wrote the movie, is saying that anyone who believes in such moral absolutes, such as the biblical admonitions against fornication and homosexuality, or the moral superiority of Christianity, is an idiot. No small wonder, then, that TALLADEGA NIGHTS is not only full of ridicule, but also full of sexual references and foul language."

Uh, when you say you are superior to me, I get to say you are an idiot. That's the way the world works. Bozo.

[ThsMchneKilsFascists]

58. Have not seen the film, but questions for those who have:

In the initial movie trailers, Ferrell is running around the track thinking he's on fire after a wreck. I seem to remember dialog along the lines."Help me Jesus. Help me Tom Cruise".
In later trailers the dialog was changed "Help me Jesus, Help me Oprah Winfrey".
Made me wonder if the Scientologists threatened a lawsuit or something.
so A)Does anyone else remember this dialog edit or did I imagine it.
and B)If it was edited, was the dialog changed in the trailers only, or the movie as well?

[kwyjibo]

63. He asks for help from Tom and Oprah

But I think he said Winifred instead of Winfrey.

He's "on fire" in two different scenes so maybe they're split up.. I don't remember.

You have to go see it! It's hilarious!

[ThsMchneKilsFascists]

74. Thanks for clearing that up for me

I think I will check it out after reading the O.P. and the comments in this thread.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

[Initech]

59. Quick, call the whaaaaaaaaaaambulance!

What a whiny little weiner. The church (and especially the baptist church) is known for dishing out incredible amounts of racism, hatred, and bigotry every day. They should be able to take it.

[sgxnk]

60. it's called COMEDY

i realize the "eternally offended" don't like anybody being made fun of...


not to mention the numerous european countries that actually have LAWS against making fun of religion (see: vilification of religion laws)

frankly, from what i have read from several reviewers, this movie makes fun of these things in a sort of "affectionate" way if u know what i mean

we are talking a will farrell movie

i guess i should have been offended at Old School since it made fun of fraternities

not that there is not hypocrisy in that these same people doing the farrell movie wouldn't DARE make fun of muslims

of course, that's fear not hypocrisy

see: sum of all fears and cartoon wars

[porphyrian]

62. It must be good. It's pissing off the right people. - n/t

[Rosco T.]

65. It's Hilarious.... I love the stuff Will Ferrell does...

HELP ME JESUS!
HELP ME JEWISH GOD!
HELP ME TOM CRUISE!!

[Richard Steele]

66. Ok, now I gotta go see it!

If it is really this annoying to a foaming arch-wanker
like Baehr, then it's gotta be good.

[Bake]

68. Frankly, I've never "gotten" Ferrell

Most of his work leaves me stone-faced. The one exception, and it really surprised me, was Anchorman. I liked it. Otherwise, Ferrell really only has one "character," and he's not particularly funny. YMMV.

Bake

[TexasLawyer]

79. Did you see his stunning portrayal of Jesus

in the movie "SuperStar" starring Molly Shannon? I think it's Will Farrell's finest work.

[Bake]

113. Saw him do it on SNL

Missed Superstar, but I'm guessing it was the same "character" he did on SNL. Yeah, it was OK.

I just always found my attention drawn to someone else in whatever sketch he was in. For example, when he and Cheri Oteri did the cheerleaders, I was always watching her.

I did like his part in the famous "more cowbell" sketch.

Bake

[cool user name]

69. American masculinity?

:wtf:

[Scout]

70. had no desire to see it before this review...

and still no desire to see it...
:shrug:

[Borgnine]

73. I've got to see this film!

I thought it looked lame in the trailers, but if this fuckjob has a problem with it then it must be some good entertainment.

[Sydnie]

76. Threaten Will Ferrell? For what? For reading the lines of a script?

Somone else wrote those words, you asshat. (Baehr - not the OP) Gibson said what was on his mind. Big difference dude.


Now, I really want to see it!

[Johonny]

77. I love it

I was no fan of Anchorman. I thought it lacked any direction. But this movie was drop dead funny from start to finish. I guess he doesn't like the movie cause the wild ignorant family of the baby Jesus conversation learns to respect their family ties and church by the end.

[WestSeattle2]

78. Wow, I know the next movie I'm going to go see......

[Blue_Tires]

80. oh ferfuxake!

I'm not in the belief of giving this clown reviewer any more pub than he's already getting....but i've seen some of his past reviews, and he thinks ANYTHING that isn't "Birth of a Nation" or "Triumph of the Will" sucks

[baldguy]

81. Republicans don't need Hollywood to ridicule Jesus.

'nuff said.

[Greybnk48]

82. Well, that settles it, I'm going to see it for sure n/t

[Bluebear]

101. me 2!

[Guaranteed]

105. Absolutely. I'm there. nt

[guinivere]

83. They must lead some sad damn lives.

How can you go through life being totally humorless? Why do they take everything so seriously?

I suppose now there will be more screeching about "persecution". Morans all.

[LostinVA]

86. It is totally hysterical

I lived in NC for 17 years, right in the middle of Winston Cup country -- literally. I tutored Richard Petty's daughter in college (really). It is DEAD on.

[SeattleGirl]

95. I cannot WAIT to see it!

I am a NASCAR fan, and my parents, as well as two of my uncles and several cousins raced cars on the local circuit in Oregon. My dad and his brothers were from Arkansas. I know this movie is just going to crack me up, given the comments I've read from people who saw it and the previews I've seen of it.

And to the fundies: Lighten up, y'all! It'll do you a lot of good.

[DanCa]

89. I am going to wait to its on Dish.

I think the fundies are in an uproar about this one because the truth hurts.
Btw I personally thought the Passion of the Christ was more of an insult to Christianity than any movie that the right has complained about lately.

[annabanana]

90. lol. . Nothing with Davy & Goliath available?

Oh those poor, underrepresented, downtrodden, ever victimized "Southern white men", with their odd, twisted version of Christianity, Jesus Christ, the family, and American masculinity.

[Codeblue]

91. Hey

My family has been NASCAR fans for years and we are not hicks or Christian or anything of the like. My mom is from Florida which is about as close as we can get to being Southern. My dad is from Canada for God's sake.

I think the movie looks hilarious. People just need to lighten up and take jokes. I'm a NASCAR fan and I bet I'll still love the movie.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

93. The theater was full of laughter when I saw it this weekend.

I did hear a couple of complaints but the audience seemed to enjoy it for the most part.

I thought it was great. I laughed my butt off throughout the movie.


Dear Lord Baby Jesus,

Thank you for Talladega Nights.

:rofl:

[DanCa]

94. Hmm why are they wasting money watching a movie in the first place?

Why aren't they using thier money to support the troops instead of spending their dollars watching films that aggravate them?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

96. Oooh, I just love the 'politically correct' complaint

"PC" is evil, evil, evil, except when it comes to your own situation where, of course, it's required. :eyes:

Poor, persecuted, white male xtians. So powerless in American society. :nopity:

[Nikki Stone 1]

97. Actually, it does ridicule the white, male, NASCAR, Bible belt crowd

Then again, so does Jeff Foxworthy. :)

[Ediacara]

98. most "blasphemous, politically correct major movies ever released ...

Really? I thought it was horrifyingly homophobic and terribly xenophobic.

[marmar]

100. Man are his panties all knotted up...

If I hear any more of these so-called Christians whining about the attack on Mel Gibson, I'm going to scream. (or laugh or cry)

[Ovett]

107. I saw it today... thought it sucked.

Almost all the jokes fell flat to me... and they recycled a few too, including the baby jesus thing.

Didn't do it for me and I usually like Will Ferrell.

[Zhade]

108. Blasphemy is only a crime in the minds of the religiously insane.

NT!

[auburngrad82]

110. It's a satire fer crissakes

Anyone with more than a fifth grade education should know that.



Liberal bumper stickers

[Taxloss]

111. "American masculinity"?

Can't be that masculine if it gets upset over a film. It's hard to imagine Hemingway (for instance) getting his panties in a twist like this.

[Catherine Vincent]

112. "self-righteous liberals"

I'll probably go and see this movie now just because this conservative blowhard hates it.

[TheFriedPiper]

114. Anything that pisses off holy rollers has to be worth seeing

Even if only to support the hastening of the decline of religious influence over culture by encouraging others to make more movies that piss off holy rollers.