I went to see Talladega Nights at the theater today. By myself. Why? Partly because it's 100 degrees outside, partly because I'm tired of spending all my free time in the house, and partly because I had a gift certificate to Regal Cinemas that I got last Christmas and needed to use before it expired.
So, how was the movie? Better than I expected. I think I enjoyed it on a level that its target audience would not. There weren't very many people in the theater with me (2:30 on a weekday afternoon), but those who were there were a pretty good cross-section of the county demographics here: 90% working class conservative (I'm guessing from the reactions to the male-on-male kissing scenes) and me, the liberal NPR-listening, PETA-email-list-subscriber that I am.
I think my departure from the target audience made me appreciate more of the jokes I'm sure Will Ferrell and the rest of "liberal Hollywood" threw in there for themselves. I actually recognized the jazz song that was on the jukebox in the sports bar when the gay French Formula One racer made his entrance (Charlie Parker). Also a hoot - Jean Girard's lawn party, where he's hosting Mos Def and Elvis Costello (random and very quick cameos).
Sasha Baron Cohen is fabulous as Jean Girard.
So it was a good movie. Nothing I'd pay money to see, but I'm not sorry I saw it.
