Summary
- Fans still quote Ricky Bobby's iconic lines today, cementing Talladega Nights as a comedy classic.
- Will Ferrell's portrayal of Ricky Bobby is one of his most memorable roles, full of humor and arrogant charm.
- The movie's hilarious moments and memorable quotes showcase the chemistry between Ferrell and his co-stars, making it a must-watch comedy.
The most iconic Ricky Bobby quotes from Talladega Nights are memorable snippets that show why the NASCAR comedy is an underrated gem. While Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's collaborations may be over, Talladega Nights remains one of their best joint projects. The story of an arrogant NASCAR driver who needs to learn some humility is packed with laugh-out-loud moments and hilarious one-liners. While there are many funny performances, Ferrell's Rick Bobby is the star of the show.
Ricky is one of Ferrell's most memorable roles, and he has some of the funniest lines that people still quote today. There are endless hilarious Ricky Bobby quotes to cement Talladega Nights as a classic. While the movie has plenty of funny characters with memorable lines, the Ricky Bobby quotes remain memorable years later and still make audiences laugh out loud. Whether it's the accent with which Ferrell busts them out, his facial expressions, or the antics of the character itself, there's no question that Talladega Nights quotes are in line with the hilarity of the best Anchorman quotes.
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There are plenty of hilarious movies like Talladega Nights that are just as silly and endlessly quotable as the Will Ferrell NASCAR comedy.
20 "Absolutely Ma'am. I'd Love To Sign Your Baby."
Ricky Bobby To A Fan
One of the best Ricky Bobby quotes comes right at the beginning of Talladega Nights. The early scenes in the movie show Ricky's quick rise to the top of the NASCAR world as one of its best drivers, and he becomes a huge celebrity with fans all around him at all times. While he might have been unsure at first, Ricky quickly takes to this new level of fame.
Ricky Bobby is one of the most arrogant characters Will Ferrell has ever played, even compared to the likes of Anchorman's Ron Burgundy, and there are many Talladega Nights quotes like this which show just how inflated his ego is are hilarious. Ricky happily signs autographs for a group of eager fans and loves the attention. He even excitedly agrees to sign the forehead of a fan's baby and then suggests that they won't want to wash the child anymore.
19 "I Was Gone For Three Hours!"
Ricky Bobby To Cal & Carley
Ricky Bobby's teammate, Cal, has been fed up with being in Ricky's shadow, and the second he gets the opportunity he usurps Ricky in more ways than one. Just as quickly as Ricky's career rises to great heights, it falls apart. When Ricky Bobby is no longer the best racer around, it is not just his career that suffers but also his personal life. After being fired, Ricky returns home to find his best friend Cal at his house hanging out with his wife and kids like they are one big happy family.
This quote is all the more memorable thanks to the presence of Ferrell's frequent collaborator John C. Reilly
Cal and Carley then tell him that they are planning on getting married. Confused, Ricky points out that all this has happened when he's been gone for only a few hours. This quote is all the more memorable thanks to the presence of Ferrell's frequent collaborator John C. Reilly, who plays Cal, and the chemistry of the pair comes to the fore throughout the entire scene.
18 "The Ninjas Are Trying To Get Me."
Ricky Bobby To His Race Crew
Will Ferrell comes up with one of the best Ricky Bobby quotes in the throes of paranoia. Following his devastating crash, Ricky loses his edge as a racer and has a hard time getting back behind the wheel. While such a reaction to a traumatic experience like that is to be expected, Ricky's fear is all over the place. After trying out a practice run in which he fails to go more than a few miles per hour, Ricky strips naked in panic and runs out onto the racetrack.
For no particular reason, he starts raving about ninjas attacking him, proving that he might not be ready to race again. While Ricky's arrogance makes for some great Talladega Nights quotes, this one instead leans on Ferrell's ability to deliver even the most ridiculous of lines with total earnestness, and the result is — of course — hilarious.
17 "Everyone Turn Away. Things Are Gonna Get Crazy. We’re Gonna Make Animal Noises."
Ricky Bobby To The Restaurant Customers
To say that Ricky Bobby has no issues with public displays of affection is an understatement, a fact that's made clear at several points in the movie. However, while the scenes with Ricky and his wife Carley (Leslie Bibb) are hilarious, so is the moment he finds his next love. Talladega Nights is a comedy filled with some terrific actors, and it is especially fun seeing some up-and-coming talents appearing in smaller roles.
Ricky is courteous enough to warn the other patrons to look away from the bizarre love scene.
While Amy Adams was on her way to becoming an iconic actor in the 2010s, she appeared as Ricky's assistant Susan, who becomes his love interest in a hilarious scene. While at a restaurant, Susan tries to reignite Ricky's fire. Gradually, the two realize they share a mutual attraction and begin climbing on the table and making out. Ricky is courteous enough to warn the other patrons to look away from the bizarre love scene.
16 "Well, What Do You Say We Get Thrown Out Of An Applebee's?"
Ricky Bobby To His Dad Reese
Many of the best Talladega Nights quotes have to do with the chaotic Bobby family. When Ricky's father, Reese, comes back into his life, they attempt to have a father-son bond, only for Reese to prove he is still an irresponsible and reckless man. At the end of the movie, when Ricky has won everything back that meant something to him, he knows that Reese isn't going to change.
However, Ricky seems to accept that his father is no role model and suggests the whole family go out together and get kicked out of Applebee's. It is the kind of family outing that seems fitting for this clan. The fact that getting ejected from the establishment is part of the plan says everything about the Bobby family and their values, and this makes for one of dozens of laugh-out-loud moments.
15 "Shake And Bake!"
Ricky Bobby & Cal's NASCAR Catchphrase
"Shake and bake!" is one of the most memorable Ricky Bobby quotes and is repeated many times throughout the film. Talladega Nights may be about Ricky Bobby's redemption as a racer, but it is also a buddy story between Ricky and his racing partner Cal Naughton Jr., played by Ferrell's frequent comedy costar, John C. Reilly. These two men make for an unstoppable duo on the track and even come up with their catchphrase. These best buddies often yell their saying, "shake and bake," after every victory or really whenever they feel like it.
The words mean much more to Ricky than they do to Cal.
Supposedly, the catchphrase is meant to speak to how well they go together. However, as becomes apparent as Ricky's life falls apart, their partnership isn't as solid as it seems. Cal is eager to take Ricky's place, showing that no matter how many times they say "shake and bake" then fist-bump for the cameras, the words mean much more to Ricky than they do to Cal.
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14 "I Just Read In The Newspaper That They Put A Pig Heart In Some Guy In Russia."
Ricky Bobby To His Manager Lucius
Despite his talent as a racer, Ricky Bobby can also be reckless, which doesn't sit well with his team. Unfortunately, the fact that he keeps winning only fuels his ego and makes him feel invincible. And the more delusional he becomes, the funnier it is. After a particularly dangerous race, Ricky's manager Lucius warns him against such moves and says that he won't live forever.
However, Ricky argues that with advances in science, anything is possible, and he's even heard of a pig heart transplant. It's a hilariously strange detail that is made even funnier as Ricky clarifies that the man died. The interactions between Ricky and Lucius are made all the funnier due to Lucius being played by The Green Mile star Michael Clarke Duncan, who does a great job at remaining poker-faced despite the ridiuclousness of some of Ferrel's lines.