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.
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.
Saw it. I'm a Christian who wasn't offended. My wife, who has a rather overly sensitve radar for being offended as a Christian, was also not offended and we both laughed quite often during the film.
Lighten up people. The things the original complainer sees in the film just aren't worth whining about. It was NOT disrespectful imo.
I can't believe someone actually walked out of this movie thinking it was an attack on southern white men and christianity. This Ted Baehr guy sounds like a laugh riot.
Take a good look at the shirt. See how it has wrinkles and rolls to it, as you would expect a cotton t-shirt to have if someone were holding it up outside?
Now take a good look at the graphic supposedly printed on the shirt. See how it's perfectly flat and even---very two-dimensional? With no wrinkles or rolls to it at all?
It's obviously Photoshopped. Plus, even though she's terrible, Hitlery is a politician. Even she, I'd say, wouldn't be caught dead holding up shirt that inflammatory.
Well said!. . .The challenge is to demonstrate what IS Christian rather than just espousing what is not.
But think about the fact that people stop and wonder, rather than just KNOWING immediately. Not because it's a picture of Hillary, but any number of photoshopped pictures that have been posted here have been accepted as genuine.
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. "
HINT: If you're offended, then don't watch the movie.
I love films. I do not much care for anything much Hollywood has produced lately. What I find interesting about this reviewer is, his recommendation of World Trade Center. First, I would refuse to see this film because it is not entertaining. But I do not watch films solely because of entertainment value. I often watch films to be instructed. But both as a red blooded American and a Christian, there is no way I am looking for instruction on any subject from Oliver Stone a Hollywood leftist if there ever has been one, and there have been a boat load.
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