This 2018 racing film starring John Travolta, Shania Twain and Toby Sebastian follows in a long line of car-centered dramas filmed around Alabama going all the way back to Hooper, Six Pack, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, tapping into a much-beloved pastime in our home state, while also helping to define the genre. In this update, Travolta plays the patriarch of the father-son racing duo of Sam and Cam Munroe (with Cam being played by Sebastian), who regularly compete at the local Talladega Short Track & Raceway Park as part of a team, with Sam a retired champion and his son an up-and-coming racer who can’t get a break. Poached by racing rival Bob Linsky (played by Michael Madsen), who lures him away from his father, the younger Munroe is coaxed into not just betraying his father as a teammate, but later to betray him on the track, as Sam decides to come out of retirement to prove himself against his son. Backstabbing and coordinated crashes commence amongst the family, until Cam is ultimately hurt, bringing them back together to take on Linsky and win in an act of redemptive brinksmanship. Featuring scenes shot at Hueytown High School, Golden Rule Bar-B-Q in Hoover, Town & Country Ford, and Harry & Billie’s Bar in Bessemer, although the film is not great by Travolta’s usual standards, it does highlight many of our surrounding area’s businesses and landmarks, making it a fun watch for anyone wanting to see their hometown in a major motion picture.
FUN FACT: Considered one of John Travolta’s worst performances of all time, he was awarded the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor over his role as Sam Munroe in 2019, making him a two-time winner based on characters he played in Alabama (the other being Moose from 2019’s The Fanatic).
Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy8t2lkn_lE