In the pantheon of figure skating films, how does "Blades of Glory" hold up? The answer not surprisingly is very well. That being said, does it hold weight with other Ferell gems of recent years? Also a resounding yes. As with Talladega Nights before it, Ferrell once again aims his comedic attack at a second tier sport in desperate need of mocking.
Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) is a sex addicted, alcoholic, with a full tank of machismo. Jimmy Mcelroy (John Heder) is an effeminate orphan prodigy, who was adopted by Darren Mcelroy (William Fichtner) a billionaire obsessed with success. Jimmy has been trained since childhood to become a world class skater, while Chazz was discovered in underground sewer skating tournaments in Detroit... Seriously.
The up from the streets lone wolf Chazz and the upper crust, daddy’s boy Jimmy, are bitter rivals on and off the ice. After they tie at the World Winter Sport Games, both men end up brawling on the ice during the medals ceremony, earning them lifetime ban's from competitive Figure Skating. Chazz’s drinking rages out of control as he spends his days boozing and womanizing while working for a children’s ice skating show. Jimmy works at and ice skate shop, where he’s disrespected and forgotten.
There’s of course a loop hole to the life time ban, found by Jimmy’s hilariously obsessed fan Hector (Nick Swardson) who is embarrassed to be stalking a has been. After another brawl between Jimmy and Chazz lands them in jail, they are convinced to compete as the first Male pairs skating team by Coach (Craig T. Nelson). And so the ongoing gay joke that is Chazz and Jimmy dancing begins.
Will Arnett and Amy Poehler play the brother and sister team Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg. The duo's main competition and pairs champions. Arnett's psychotic grin is enough to induce laughter, not to mention the borderline incestuous relationship between the brother and sister.
Coach decides that the only way Chazz and Jimmy will be able to win the gold is to perform the dangerous and near impossible Iron Lotus, a move which can cause decapitation and in one hilarious incident actually does.
A love story subplot involving Jimmy and the younger Waldenberg sister Katie (Jenna Fischer of "The Office") falls a bit flat. But Ferrell and Heder's complete willingness to humiliate themselves for our amusement is the films saving grace.
Is it formulaic? Definitely, but that's not always a bad thing. Especially if the formula accomplishes its desired effect, laughter.
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Great review!
Written by Guest on 2007-04-04 09:41:47
You really made me want to see the movie |
re-thinking
Written by Guest on 2007-04-06 00:36:57
i thought this movie was really going to be a taint-licker of a movie. But if this dude says it is what it is then i think its right up my alley!! |
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