Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Christopher Nolan (yes, that one) says that, if he sees it on, he is compelled to watch. He made this declaration in the same breath as he mentioned Kubrick.

And he's not wrong. This film is both incredibly funny and holds up as a compelling NASCAR movie with honest, believable racing sequences. It is not believable in terms of how racing actually operates, but rather in the kinetic motion of the cars, the sense of speed, and the paranoid claustrophobia of vehicles in close proximity.

Some of the jokes are a little dated, which will definitely resonate more with audiences of a certain age. Others are funnier if you're less knowledgeable and sad if you are (the invisible flames scene being the biggest offender).

Still, this viewing left me laughing harder than I have in ages for nearly the entire time.