This is a trope page describing the characters that appear in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
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Ricky Bobby
"Hang on, Baby Jesus! This gon' get bumpy!"
"Well Dick, here's the deal: I'm the best there is, plain and simple. I mean, I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence, and nobody can hang with my stuff, you know? I'm just a big, hairy, American winning machine."
Played by Will Ferrell
Ricky Bobby, son of the speed-seeking Reese Bobby, is NASCAR's #1 driver. From humble pit crew beginnings, Ricky took the first opportunity he had to get on the track and never looked back, collecting fame, money, and a kickass reputation along the way.
Tropes related to Ricky:
- Dumb Ass Has A Point: Ricky rightfully calls out Cal for taking his life away after one bad race.
- Everyone Has Standards:
- While he may joke about Mrs. Dennit's alcoholism, the look on his face when she shows up to the after race celebration completely wasted makes it clear he's disturbed by it.
- Played for Laughs early on, after Carley Bobby takes her shirt off for him when they first met, Ricky mumbles to himself "Please be 18."
- Humiliation Conga: The beginning of the film shows Ricky's rise in the NASCAR ranks, only for one bad race to immediately send him on a downward spiral. He's hospitalized, loses his wife, and can't get into a car without freaking out, all while a French stock car racer steals his fame.
- Innocently Insensitive: Whenever he starts a sentence with: with all due respect.
- Large Ham: Is a poster boy to this trope. Special mention goes to how he keeps awkwardly raising his hands into frame in one of his first interviews despite being told to just keep them by his sides.
- Manchild: After succeeding his whole life, Ricky becomes utterly useless in the face of failure.
- Real Men Love Jesus: Parodied; despite his ultra-macho attitude, Ricky seems bizarrely fixated on the idea of Jesus being a tiny newborn baby ("I like the baby version the best!"). He also begins screaming for help from every god he can think of when he believes he's on fire.
- Second Place Is for Losers: Firmly believes this at the start of the movie due to his dad telling him "If you ain't first, you're last" when he was ten years old. He went on to model his whole life after that slogan.
- This Is Gonna Suck: "I'm flying through the air now. This isn't good."
- Took a Level in Jerkass: The beginning of the movie shows that Ricky was a soft-spoken, respectful guy before he became a NASCAR driver. Then he became a big success and let the fame get to his head.
- Two First Names: Which is Lampshaded towards the beginning during his rise to fame.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Ricky admits that his main motivation for racing and winning is to gain his father’s love and attention.
- Worthy Opponent: Jean Gerard reveals to Ricky that he's bored with life and came to America to seek out an opponent worthy of taking on. He believed Ricky to be this, and plans to retire once he's beaten. In the end, he and Ricky come to an understanding after Ricky beats him on foot and the two share a kiss.
Cal Naughton, Jr.
"Shake and bake!"
"I like to picture Jesus in a tuxedo T-shirt. 'Cause it says, like, I wanna be formal, but I’m here to party, too. I like to party, so I like my Jesus to party."
Played by John C. Reilly
Ricky's lifelong best friend, Cal Naughton, Jr. always dreamed of becoming a stock car racer alongside his buddy, and not long after Ricky's big break, his dream came true. When necessary, Cal uses his and Ricky's on-track dynamic to rocket his friend into first place through a process they call "Shake and Bake."
Tropes related to Cal:
- Always Second Best: Certainly feels this way towards Ricky, which is why he always helps him win and hardly ever draws attention to himself. In the final race, Ricky and Jean Gerard get out of their cars and race to the finish after all the other racers have crashed. They're disqualified, and Cal is declared the technical winner of the race due to crashing in third place behind them.
- Childhood Friends: Cal and Ricky have known each other since elementary school.
- Face–Heel Revolving Door: With regards to his relationship with Ricky. He starts as his best friend, but Ricky's selfishness drives him to turn on him. Despite this, he continues to treat Ricky as if they're still close, calling him up to hang out constantly and inviting him to be the best man at his and Carley's wedding. He becomes friends with Ricky again after Ricky goes through some character growth.
- Freudian Excuse: Cal's crew chief suggests that Cal stealing Ricky's wife resulted in a subliminal resentment towards his best friend for never letting him win any races. Cal spends the whole final race distracted by this.
- Large Ham: Just like Ricky, Cal seems born to chew the scenery.
- Manchild: Just like his best friend, Ricky, which is why they have such good chemistry.
- Nice Guy: His friendship with Ricky especially when they utter Shake and Bake.
Carley Bobby
"Hey, um, you know, sweetie, Jesus did grow up. You don't always have to call him baby. It's a bit odd and off-putting to pray to a baby."
Played by Leslie Bibb
After flashing Ricky at one of his races, Carley Bobby became his beautiful Trophy Wife. Together, they brought up two sons, Walker and Texas Ranger, and let her father live with them in their enormous mansion.
Tropes related to Carley:
- Buxom Beauty Standard: Her large breasts are what got Ricky attracted to her in the first place.
- The Ditz: She thinks Ricky Bobby is dead when he's in hospital.
- Everyone Loves Blondes: Everyone is aware of how hot Carley is, including her husband, Ricky, and later on his best friend, Cal, when she moves on after Ricky loses his stardom.
- Gold Digger: Her primary character trait. After Ricky makes a fool of himself and is forced to take a leave from racing, she immediately moves on to his best friend Cal.
- Ms. Fanservice: In-Universe and out. If Ricky marrying her not long after seeing her breasts tells you anything, she's pretty well known for her body. When she flashes Ricky again towards the end, a man faints.
Jean Girard
"Hakuna Matata, bitches!"
"I will battle you with the entirety of my heart, and you will probably lose, but maybe, just maybe, you might challenge me. God needs the Devil. The Beatles needed The Rolling Stones. Even Diane Sawyer needed Katie Couric. Will you be my...Katie Couric?"
Played by Sacha Baron Cohen
Jean Girard is a sophisticated, homosexual French Formula 1 driver who begins stealing the spotlight from Ricky with his clashing lifestyle and undeniable skill behind the wheel.
Tropes relating to Gerard:
- The Ace: He's an elite driver, well-read, sophisticated, wildly successful and lives a Happily Married life in a gorgeous estate. His only apparent problem in life is finding someone good enough to actually give him a challenge.
- Affably Evil: Gerard is just as likeable as Ricky and is only looking for a challenge. In fact, he's not even evil, the story just makes him out to be that way simply because he's Ricky's rival.
- Anti-Villain: To the point where he's pretty much a Designated Villain. Especially since he’s more reasonable and honorable than most of the protagonists.
- Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys: Averted; Girard is a relentless and fearless competitor who easily handles Ricky Bobby when they fight at The Pit Stop.
- Cultured Badass: He drinks Espresso and reads philosophy books while behind the wheel and still comes out on top.
- French Cuisine Is Haughty: Lampshaded. Girard insists that Ricky say that he loves crêpes before he'll let him go. Ricky refuses, even as the other American drivers point out they're actually quite delicious.
- French Jerk: Definitely has his moments, although he's no worse than his largely American competitors.
- Graceful Loser: After losing to Ricky, Jean claims that Ricky has “set him free” by beating him.
- Happily Married: To his husband Gregory. They plan on retiring to Stockholm to develop a currency for animals to use, for whatever reason.
- Precision F-Strike: Has one of these towards Ricky in the final race.Gerard: By the way, Ricky, I saw the Highlander movie! It was shit!
- What the Hell Is That Accent?: Sacha Baron-Cohen plays Girard with an exaggerated French accent and a lisp.
- Worthy Opponent: Girard came to America seeking someone who could best him in racing. By the end of the movie, he and Ricky both consider each other this and share a kiss.
Reese Bobby
"You need to learn to drive with the fear, and there ain't nothin' more goddamn frightening than driving with a live cougar in the car."
Played by Gary Cole
Ricky Bobby's mischievous, deadbeat father who Ricky initially got into racing to impress despite his prolonged absence in his life.
Tropes related to Reese:
- Disappeared Dad: Is this for Ricky. He showed up at his son's elementary school career day when Ricky was 10 years old and made a scene, which was the last time he saw him until adulthood.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He's often a surly, drunken asshole, but in the end, he comes through for his son.
- Second Place Is for Losers: Passes on this mentality to his son with his famous "If you ain't first, you're last" line. It later turns out he only said this because he was high at the time and points out it makes no sense at all.
Lucy Bobby
"When are you boys going to stop tossing me the radio in the bathtub?"
Played by Jane Lynch
Ricky's loving mother who knows how to run a house and whip children into shape.
Tropes related to Lucy:
- Cool Old Lady: She takes in her son and his kids without a second thought and whips them into shape after they demonstrate their anarchic behavior.
Lucius Washington
"I don't wanna rain on your parade, but that was some of the dumbest driving I have ever seen in my life."
Played by Michael Clarke Duncan
Ricky Bobby's crew chief who supported his driver from his humble beginnings on the pit crew.
Tropes related to Lucius:
- Berserk Button: Doesn't take kindly to Ricky cursing the health of his future children.Lucius: Don't you put that evil on me, Ricky Bobby!
- Only Sane Man: Usually Played Straight, but sometimes it becomes relative based on whatever's going on around him. See Worst Aid below.
- Worst Aid: When Ricky Bobby stabs himself in the leg with a knife, Lucius thinks up the idea to remove it by sticking another knife in his leg and prying it out.
Susan
"Ricky Bobby is not a thinker! Ricky Bobby is a driver!"
Played by Amy Adams
Ricky's assistant who takes a liking to him despite him barely noticing her existence.
Tropes related to Susan:
- Dare to Be Badass: Gives Ricky one of these speeches that certainly helps him get back into the game.Susan: Ricky Bobby is not a thinker. Ricky Bobby is a driver. He is a doer, and that's what you need to do. You don't need to think. You need to drive. You need speed. You need to go out there, and you need to rev your engine. You need to fire it up. You need to grab ahold of that line between speed and chaos, and you need to wrestle it to the ground like a demon cobra. And then, when the fear rises up in your belly, you use it. And you know that fear is powerful, because it has been there for billions of years! And it is good! And you use it! And you ride it; you ride it like a skeleton horse through the gates of hell, and then you win, Ricky! You win! And you don't win for anybody else. You win for you, you know why? Because a man takes what he wants. He takes it all. And you're a man, aren't you? Aren't you?!
- Guardian Angel: She motivates Ricky to race again and acknowledges that his sponsors, father and Carley have left him for Ricky trying to prove himself.
- Nice Girl: She's not only polite when Ricky Bobby is acting childish but also self conscious. She never calls him out on his bad behaviour rather she motivates him and shows sympathy for him.
- Stealth Insult: Her iconic speech does, after all, starts off with "Ricky Bobby isn't a thinker," though she clearly meant no harm by it.
- Worthy Opponent: At the end of the film, Susan flashes her own breasts at Carley. Carley is impressed.
Glenn Muncie
"Ricky, this car is like your Excalibur, the mighty sword King Arthur used to bring together the knights of the roundtable, until Lancelot betrayed him by laying with his queen... in the biblical sense."
Played by Jack McBrayer
A nerdy member of Ricky Bobby's pit crew.
Tropes related to Glenn:
- Ambiguously Christian: Glenn saying, “in the biblical sense,” instead of, “in a sexual way.” He also doesn’t curse or swear. Glenn is also the only one to cover his eyes when Carley flashes Ricky. Though he could just be a gentleman, Christians who are serious about their religion tend to try not to look at a member of the opposite sex naked who they aren’t married to.
- The Friend Nobody Likes: The rest of the team finds him annoying for being an overly positive nerd.
- Mood Killer: After Lucius gives a stirring speech about Ricky driving for his own sake, Glenn completely ruins the moment by making the above quote.Ricky: Okay, Glenn. Everything cool that Susan said, you wrecked it.
- Nice Guy: He very obviously cherishes his fellow pit crew members and crew chief.
- Stalker with a Crush: Glenn implies he stalked an ex-girlfriend.
- The Pollyanna: “It’s not always bad to be in last place! Here’s some things we can focus on! One, we tried hard, and two, we’re still dear friends!”
- Lovable Nerd: He’s very nice, caring, and supportive.
- Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated: In order to motivate Ricky for the race, the rest of the pit crew pretend to be sad, while Lucius tells Ricky Glenn died in his arms as he held him. Lucius then goes on to say that while Glenn was dying, he said, “Tell Ricky to win.” Ricky is upset about his “death,” but he quickly sees Glenn hiding and peeking at him, then tells him he sees him.
Walker and Texas Ranger Bobby
Walker: Shut up, Chip, or I'll go ape shit on your ass!
Texas Ranger: I'm gonna scissor-kick you in the back of the head!
Played by Houston Tumlin (Walker) and Grayson Russell (Texas Ranger)
Ricky and Carley's two delinquent sons who say whatever rowdy thing comes to their minds with no repercussions from their parents. Till their Grandma Lucy gets ahold of 'em.
Tropes related to Walker and Texas Ranger:
- Spoiled Brat: Until Lucy Bobby whips them into shape, that is.
- Took a Level in Kindness: After Lucy Bobby whips them into shape, they become two well-behaved boys even by normal standards.
- Unusual Pop Culture Name: Their eccentric parents named them after Walker, Texas Ranger.
Larry Dennit Jr.
"That little obscene gesture is going to cost us a bundle."
Played by Greg Germann
The owner of the Dennit Racing Team that employs Ricky, Cal, and later Giroud.
Tropes related to Larry
- Butt-Monkey: No one treats him with any respect, especially his wife.
- Greater-Scope Villain: While Giroud is Ricky's rival on the track, he only came to be so because Larry hired him in an attempt to sabotage Ricky's career.
- Green-Eyed Monster: He hates Ricky because he had a closer relationship with his father, Larry Dennit Sr., than he did.
- Jerkass: Even before Ricky Took a Level in Jerkass and became close to his father, Larry was a pompous jerk who dismissed Ricky as a "stupid cowboy" even after Ricky saved the team's bacon by subbing in for Terry Cheveaux when he quit.
- Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: He claims everything he does to Ricky is in an effort to help the team as a whole win the NASCAR points championship. His actions during the final race proves he cares less about that and more about destroying Ricky's career.
Mrs. Dennit
"There's only one good thing about coming to the races... and that is the vibrations from the cars."
Played by Molly Shannon
Larry Dennit Jr.'s alcoholic wife.
Tropes related to Mrs. Dennit
- The Alcoholic: Ricky calls her "Mrs. Jim Beam" when he sees her wasted after a race.
- Awful Wedded Life: It's clear her marriage to Larry Jr. is far from happy as she constantly drinks and uses the vibrations from the races to sexually satisfy her.
- Lady Drunk: It's implied her alcoholism stems from her unhappy marriage.
