After recently viewing ‘F1: The Movie’ the film buffs here at Demaras Racing went back to the O.G. motor racing blockbuster movie ‘Days of Thunder‘ to put a fresh set of eyes on it. We didn’t realize how similar ‘Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby‘ is to Tom Cruise’s NASCAR movie.
In both movies, the portrayal of NASCAR is very twisted. In ‘Days of Thunder‘ rookie stock-car racer Cole Trickle just rode his motorcycle into a test day and laid down laps as quick as a top contender. Just look at how poorly open-wheel racers like Dario Franchitti, Juan Pablo Montoya and Danica Patrick did when they jumped into NASCAR. No matter what road-racing elitists think, oval racing is a discipline that can take years to master.
Similarly the character of Ricky Bobby in ‘Talladega Nights‘ was shown as a member of the pit crew on the No. 26 Laughing Clown Malt Liquor Chevy Impala SS. When the team’s back-marker driver decided to take a bathroom break mid-race, Ricky hopped in the drivers seat to great success. Sure, Ricky Bobby was born in the back of a speeding Chevelle and was always destined for racing greatness. But you can’t just jump in a race car and go fast.
What makes audiences love these movies is that the heroes are underdogs. Cole Trickle is down on his luck, lost his seat in open-wheel and looking for a lifeline from NASCAR. Despite his ‘alpha-male’ intensity, he lacks the skills to achieve racing glory.
And Ricky Bobby? Here’s the deal He’s the best there is, plain and simple. Wakes up in the morning and pisses excellence. He is the ultimate arrogant American hero, but his myopic pursuit of winning at all costs is his weakness.
To give the movies authenticity, both films include appearances by actual race car drivers. In ‘Days of Thunder‘ it’s NASCAR race winners Rusty Wallace and Neil Bonnett, whereas in ‘Talladega Nights‘ actual NASCAR announcer Darrell Waltrip does play by play and Dale Earnhardt Jr has a cameo asking Ricky Bobby for an autograph. The most important component in a NASCAR racing movie is to cast John C Reilly, the most NASCAR looking man on Earth. He played Buck Bretherton, one of Cole Trickle’s race car crew in ‘Days of Thunder‘. He also played Cal Naughton Jr the frenemy of Ricky Bobby in ‘Talladega Nights‘ who steals his seat and his wife.
What made these movies classics is that they’ve got heart. The hero must go through a difficult character arc before he can truly win. Cocksure and self-centered Cole Trickle must learn that only through teamwork and mentorship can he reach his greatest individual achievement, wining the Daytona 500. Similarly, arrogant Ricky Bobby must overcome his ego and lose everything he thought important to recognize the importance of family and friends.
Oh, and crashes. Both movies have some of the most incredible stock-car crashes every filmed.
Goodness!!! Just reminded me of that scene in the movie ‘Rush’ by Ron Howard!
Which scene; the big crash?
Yessss, that Japan prox on Aug 1 in the rain!
My older son Taz has watched Talladega Nights 65 000 times I swear, everytime I hear or read of it, it makes me think of his obsession with it when he was a teenager.
I can relate to Taz. Talladega Nights isn’t just a good racing movie, it is infinitely quotable.
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‘Shake and Bake’ & ‘I wanna go fast!’ plus the philosophy I live my life by… “If you ain’t first, you’re last!”
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Does your Taz throw movie quotes at you like that?
If I had a loonie for every time he’s said, if you ain’t first, you’re last….I’d be rich!
I always liked…
“Help me Jesus! Help me Jewish God! Help me Allah! Help me Tom Cruise! Tom Cruise use your witchcraft on me to get the fire off me! Help me Oprah Winfrey!”
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It’s such a lampooning of ‘Days of Thunder’ and Tom Cruise and Sociology or Scientology or whatever its called.. But also makes fun of the stereotypical NASCAR guy… Jewish God.
LOL
I love all of these movies and of course racing of all kinds.
Me too! This weekly Fast Fim Friday that we’ve been doing on demaras.com has been a lotnof fun. Real eye opener
It is a good way to chill when you love racing.
I’m hearing very good things about F1 and from my estimation, it seems like Brad Pitt’s character is also playing some sort of chastened man on a redemption arc.
The best homage to Days Of Thunder, I feel, would be an all out bumper car race all over the city with him and the co-star arriving at the diner with both their daily drivers in flames from the contest to get there first lol.Mike
Judging by my wife’s insistence on seeing the movie twice, the ladies seem to like that Pitt fellow. As a gearhead, I would have gone to see the movie even if Steven Segal played the lead. The rumours you hear are true; very good flick.
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I love your race concept; sounds like Days of Thunder 2. I hope they make it with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt because the viewing public needs such a cinematic masterpiece!
should the gods of revisionist time bless us with a different F1 movie with any choice of Steven Segal’s career arc it must be the Steven Segal of straight to DVD movies so that we can get similar reviews from the gents at ClangerTV lol
https://youtu.be/BzIHyF7UWY4