Jean Girard
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| First appearance | Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby |
|---|---|
| Created by | Adam McKay Will Ferrell |
| Portrayed by | Sacha Baron Cohen |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Formula One racer |
| Spouse(s) | Gregory (husband) |
Jean Girard is a fictional Formula One racer in the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. He joins NASCAR and is Ricky Bobby’s rival. Jean Girard is played by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.
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[edit] Bio
Jean Girard is a champion Formula One racer who is said to be the best in the world. He is a gay Frenchman who is married to Gregory (Andy Richter). He joins NASCAR so he can race against Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell).
Jean and Ricky first meet in a bar where Girard interrupts Ricky's victory party by playing jazz music on the jukebox. Jean Girard claims he is the best racer in the world and wishes to beat Ricky Bobby for NASCAR supremacy. Ricky, Cal and Girard argue, until Ricky attempts to attack Girard. Girard outmaneuvers Ricky, putting him in an arm lock where he then breaks Ricky's arm after Ricky refuses to say “I love crêpes”. As Girard leaves the bar, he introduces his husband Gregory where the revelation of their homosexual marriage shocks everyone in the bar (and later the Speed Channel reporters who read Girard's Formula One profile).
Jean outperforms Ricky on the track and becomes NASCAR's top driver. During their first race, Ricky attempts to wreck Girard, but ends up wrecking his own car instead. Ricky confronts Jean for a rematch where Jean Girard claims he has been waiting for this moment for Ricky to rechallenge him.
After Jean confesses that he and Gregory want to retire to Sri Lanka and teach Komodo Dragons to perform Hamlet, he compares himself to The Beatles and Diane Sawyer, who were taken over by predecessors The Rolling Stones and Katie Couric to whom he compares Ricky Bobby. He refuses to simply let Ricky win, telling Ricky that "Tomorrow...will be WAR!"
In the final race at the Talladega 500, Brian Wavecrest, the driver who replaced Ricky in the Wonder Bread car, causes a huge crash which takes out everyone in the race except Girard and Ricky. Ricky and Jean wreck in the final turn, so they get out of their cars and race on foot to the finish line, a race Ricky wins. Afterwards, Ricky passionately kisses Jean.
[edit] Early Career
Jean started his Career in kart at age 5 winning the French Kart Championship 3 times. At age 17 Jean moved to Formula Renault winning evey single race. At age 18 Jean became the youngest Formula Three champion. At age 18 Girard got to test a Formula One car.
[edit] Trivia
- Like Ricky Bobby in America, in France the names Jean and Girard are both common names. But unlike with Bobby, Girard is never used as a first name but as a last name.
- Jean Girard was modeled after the ill will many NASCAR fans feel towards another JG: Jeff Gordon -- who does not fit in with the traditional cornpone stereotypes of stock car drivers but rather the wine and cheese crowd.
