PSB mention in "Talladega Nights: Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Message

George · #1 Post by **George** » Mon 07 Aug 2006, 10:53 pm

The new Will Ferrell comedy, "Talladega Nights: Ballad of Ricky Bobby" opened this past weekend in America, earning the No. 1 spot having grossed over US$47million in ticket sales. The comedy, with Ferrell playing the title character, is a parody on NASCAR racing and is chock full of redneck "Bubba" stereotypes and jokes. One of them, comes at the expense of the Pet Shop Boys.

When newcomer, and Bobby's nemesis, Jean Girard (deftly played by Sacha Baron Cohen), a gay, French, Formula One phenom makes his debut appearance in the movie, to announce his challenging of Ricky Bobby as NASCAR's top driver, he crashes a post race victory party at a "redneck bar" by changing the song in the jukebox from something country/rock to jazz.

With the change of music, the whole place screeches to a halt and Girard is admonished for having dared select that song. Satisfied he has everyone's attention, he begins his rebuttal asking "then why is it on the jukebox?'

"We keep it on there for profiling purposes,” says the bar owner. “We also have the Pet Shop Boys and Seal on it."

The movie really is over the top and hillarious if you like that kind of humor. But I'm sure the stereotypes the movie relies upon for humor might not play over as well across the pond. It's not exactly something I would recommend everyone rush out to see. In fact, I am kind of embarassed to admit I was among those who shelled out $47million this weekend.

glennjridge · #2 Post by **glennjridge** » Mon 07 Aug 2006, 11:30 pm

thanks for the heads up! seeing it friday. will ferrel is always awesomely funny.

ChoonHound · #3 Post by **ChoonHound** » Mon 07 Aug 2006, 11:37 pm

That is hilarious!

gsbhakta · #4 Post by **gsbhakta** » Tue 08 Aug 2006, 12:31 am

as a psb fan...i thought it was hilarious...and hell, if it gets even 1% of the watching public to think and possibly buy psb material...well, there you go.
and i dont think it was offensive to the fact there was no clear/direct implication that it was bashing or mean spirited...i beliebe will ferrel was a cowriter of movie as well....all in all i think it was good for psb rather than bad...and yes, i agree the movie was funny too!

ChoonHound · #5 Post by **ChoonHound** » Tue 08 Aug 2006, 12:36 am

"We keep it on there for profiling purposes"

That is so clever. I'm still laughing.

synthpopfan · #6 Post by **synthpopfan** » Tue 08 Aug 2006, 6:42 am

Too funny!

I'm sure one of two thoughts will pop into someone's head:

1) I remember them.

-or-

2) Are they still around?

George · #7 Post by **George** » Tue 08 Aug 2006, 6:46 am

gsbhakta wrote:as a psb fan...i thought it was hilarious...and hell, if it gets even 1% of the watching public to think and possibly buy psb material...well, there you go.
and i dont think it was offensive to the fact there was no clear/direct implication that it was bashing or mean spirited...i beliebe will ferrel was a cowriter of movie as well....all in all i think it was good for psb rather than bad...and yes, i agree the movie was funny too!

To be sure, I did laugh my ass off a number of times during the movie. But I'd have to disagree somewhat. What I didn't like about it was that it perpetuates the stereotype that PSB is a gay group and only gays listen to them. As such, I think that would actually serve to limit a vast majority of the watching public from ever giving PSB an honest listen. Granted, it wasn't an overt message, but it's the subtle ones that linger.

Synature · #8 Post by **Synature** » Tue 08 Aug 2006, 1:57 pm

George wrote:To be sure, I did laugh my ass off a number of times during the movie. But I'd have to disagree somewhat. What I didn't like about it was that it perpetuates the stereotype that PSB is a gay group and only gays listen to them. As such, I think that would actually serve to limit a vast majority of the watching public from ever giving PSB an honest listen. Granted, it wasn't an overt message, but it's the subtle ones that linger.

Didn't watch it, not going to watch it, opinion based on first post by "George"
The type of people the movie is satirizing are thought to be close minded and ignorant so maybe the PSB reference isn't that bad.
I think mentioning George Michael would have been more relevant.
And of course the nemesis would have to be gay and French. We all know how funny and creative that is

Did he redecorate and wear a beret as well

DJAMIX · #9 Post by **DJAMIX** » Tue 08 Aug 2006, 2:41 pm

Interesting...
Thanks!

CBA · #10 Post by **CBA** » Tue 08 Aug 2006, 2:50 pm

I don't get it.

gomorrah · #11 Post by **gomorrah** » Tue 08 Aug 2006, 3:16 pm

yeah, it'll be like -- what, that '80s band? are they playing with Seal now?

I find will ferrel NOT funny.

but it IS interesting.. the mention. mayhap ferrell is a fan eh?

George · #12 Post by **George** » Tue 08 Aug 2006, 5:58 pm

Synature wrote: And of course the nemesis would have to be gay and French. We all know how funny and creative that is Did he redecorate and wear a beret as well

Haha, you don't know how close you are with that. Girard's HUSBAND, played by former Late Night with Conan O'Brien co-host, Andy Richter, wore the beret and was the homemaking maven. The French are easy targets here in America. I was in Germany and France earlier this summer for the World Cup and LeTour, and sadly, the rudest, most dislikable people I encountered the whole time were French males, 30 years and older. I have to admit, my experiences with them didn't exactly refute the bias. I could go on and on to elaborate but that would be getting off topic and only invite further flames.

Synature wrote: The type of people the movie is satirizing are thought to be close minded and ignorant so maybe the PSB reference isn't that bad.

I would tend to agree. However, it's not the target of the satire I'm concerned about, it's the target movie audience (which, after opening up at #1, is a pretty large target).

Synature wrote: I think mentioning George Michael would have been more relevant.

After further contemplation, I too find it interesting that the Pet Shop Boys were used in this context. On one hand, it's too esoteric for most "Bubbas" to get, so that makes the context brilliant. On the otherhand, again, it's not really the "Bubbas" who the joke is intended for, rather than movie audience. In any case, you're right, a number of other artists could have been used perhaps more "effectively." It reminds me of the Saturday Night Live sketch "Napster Testimony" where Jimmy Fallon plays Niel Tennant. The stereotype there was that PSB were one-hit wonders from the 80's who are no longer around. (Along with Right Said Fraid , Toni Basil and Gerardo of "Rico Suave" fame). Of course, that stereotype of PSB was blatantly incorrect. On a coincidental note, Conan O'Brien was the host of that episode and played both "Right Said Fred" and the (non-exstent) "bee keeper" from the Village People in that sketch. Ferrel also appeared in the sketch.

On second thought, with all the connections and ties between this movie and SNL, I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same writer responsible for both PSB jokes.

OK, I think I've spent quite a bit more time on this topic than I had intended.

ChoonHound · #13 Post by **ChoonHound** » Tue 08 Aug 2006, 6:42 pm

THe Bee Keeper... that is so Conan.

LOL.

Synature · #14 Post by **Synature** » Thu 10 Aug 2006, 7:22 am

George wrote:
Synature wrote:The type of people the movie is satirizing are thought to be close minded and ignorant so maybe the PSB reference isn't that bad.
I would tend to agree. However, it's not the target of the satire I'm concerned about, it's the target movie audience (which, after opening up at #1, is a pretty large target).

That's what I meant. Maybe the audience will see the "bubbas" as uncultured for their outlook on PSB and Seal.
Either way, Will Ferrell has pulled the usual comedy actor route and accepts anything that comes his way. Can't blame him, typically comedians have a limited shelf life on the big screen.

VinnyM27 · #15 Post by **VinnyM27** » Fri 11 Aug 2006, 6:54 am

Synature wrote:
George wrote:
Synature wrote:The type of people the movie is satirizing are thought to be close minded and ignorant so maybe the PSB reference isn't that bad.
I would tend to agree. However, it's not the target of the satire I'm concerned about, it's the target movie audience (which, after opening up at #1, is a pretty large target).
That's what I meant. Maybe the audience will see the "bubbas" as uncultured for their outlook on PSB and Seal.
Either way, Will Ferrell has pulled the usual comedy actor route and accepts anything that comes his way. Can't blame him, typically comedians have a limited shelf life on the big screen.

I don't quite get Seal....He's AC and safe here...Although I guess it could be implied that gay people like him becuase his music is soft and romatic. I don't know. I think it would have been funnier if they would have said "Liza" or something. Then again, maybe it's funny because you don't think of Seal as someone gays would gravitate toward but they do...as you stated.

Will Ferrell does do a lot of over the top comedies (and his big star role in "Bewitched" was Ok but the movie was awful) but he also does quite a few small movies. I think he did at least one lesser known Woody Allen movies (actually "Melinda and Melinda" might have been a very small hit). He does a lot of quirky smaller roles that not a lot of people see (I still haven't seen "Winter Passing")