Media Maven: “Blades of Glory” Movie Review
"Blades of Glory"
Will Ferrell, John Heder, Amie Poehler, Jenna Fischer, Craig T. Nelson, Will Arnett, Scott Hamilton
If you dont watch TV or you dont have a funny bone then you may not have heard of Will Ferrells newest comedy called, Blades of Glory. Will Ferrell teams up with John Heder to create another comedy spectacle masterly implemented by directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck.
Even the characters names are funny. Will Ferrell plays ice skater Chazz Michael Michaels. A mildly talented skater whose testosterone showmanship on the ice makes him a popular skating figure in a world where grace, poise, precision and athleticism matters. Hes a loud, egocentric self-admitted sex addict on the ice as well as off. Its a real disease! He tells Nancy Karrigen after he tries to hit on her at his hearing of the National Skaters Federation. What makes it even more hysterical is Chazz flat out ignorance of protocol and remorse in front of the boards greats; real life skaters, Brian Boitano, Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill.
Pairing the comic talent of John Heder (of Napoleon Dynamite fame) as Ferrells foil on ice is brilliant. Heder plays Jimmy MacElroy, who is the epitome of finesse and innocence that plays so well against Ferrells slovenly behavior. Both have been banned from skating in the single mens competition. A loophole is discovered that would allow both men to skate again; with one hitch. They would have to skate together as a couple in the couples division. That concept alone and the trailers showing some of the scenes with the two of them performing are priceless.
Jenna Fischer and real life married couple Amy Poehler and Will Arnett play siblings. Fischer is the normal one of the Van Walberg family and Poehler and Arnett are the brother sister team who play the competitive nemesis to Ferrell and Heder. Cameos from real life athletes John McEnroe and Sasha Cohen just add more credibility to the frivolity that ensues.
Add to that an ensemble cast of characters who play their parts straight in a circus of idiotic silliness and you have a movie that earns its title as Blades of Glory because this movie is gloriously funny.
