Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a comedy that follows the career of NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby. He grew up with the motto, "If you ain't first, you're last." Ricky Bobby is in the race of his life when his career and motto are put to the test when French Formula One driver Jean Girard joins NASCAR.
Released 2006; Runtime 108 minutes
Concepts
- Anxiety & Stress: This is depicted throughout several portions of the movie, memorably where Ricky Bobby is learning to "drive with the fear," or in his case, a cougar.
- Career Issues: This is the overall theme of the movie, best summed up at the end with the unveiling of Ricky Bobby's new car.
- Confidence: After Ricky Bobby's crash, his confidence is shaken and his anxiety cripples him to the point where he cannot even drive a car. He slowly regains his confidence after training with his father.
Reader Note: A great satire for issues that might arise during competition. As a teaching method, being able to laugh at serious topics like fear and anxiety can make others feel at ease and approach the topic from a different angle.