252) The Other Guys (2010)

252) The Other Guys (2010) Dir: Adam McKay Date Seen: August 14, 2010 Rating: 3.5/5

Probably the most consistent and narratively sound of all of the Adam McKay-Will Ferrell comedies. Still, the film's petulant humor is stretched beyond its limits and a lot of the jokes fall flat. That having been said, McKay's song cues are still outstandingly idiosyncratic, as in the use of the Foo Fighters' "My Hero" during the anti-climactic jump scene or of Rage Against the Machine's cover of "Maggie's Farm" during the end credits.McKay's trying to prove something here about the financial crisis but only infrequently, which understandably makes some of the film gratingly lop-sided. But eh, not so much that it really stood out. This is an Adam McKay film, after all. Case in point: I especially enjoyed the bit where they plow through that mountain of cocaine. 

95) Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

95) Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) Dir: Adam McKay Date Released: August 2006 Date Seen: April 4^th, 2009 Rating: 3/5

Of the three feature-length Adam McKay/Will Ferrell co-scripted fratboy comedies released thus far, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) is probably the most modestly amusing. Though it has a great supporting cast full of gifted improvisational comedians—Sacha Baron Cohen, John C. Reilly and Molly Shannon being my favorites—it just doesn’t have the sheer volume of gags as either Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) and Step Brothers (2008) and for a film that relies on such juvenile humor, that relative slackness can be fatal. It’s a fun, middle-of-the-road comedy with a fair amount of good hearty laughs but a little more spontaneity and spastic energy would’ve gone a long way.