"Blades of Glory" is the type of movie Will Ferrell could pump out every other month. Just give him a mockable profession, a funny hairstyle, and let the cameras role; he'll do the rest.
Ferrell ("Stranger Than Fiction") plays the part of Chazz Michael Michaels, a world famous figure skater who knows no boundaries and is bad to the bone. Opposite Ferrell is Jon Heder ("School For Scoundrels") playing rival figure skater Jimmy MacElroy, a pretty boy child prodigy. And who better to play their coach than Craig T. Nelson, who gained fame as the lead role in the sitcom "Coach?"
The plot is simple and paper-thin. A fistfight between Michaels and MacElroy during an Olympic award ceremony gets them stripped of their medals and banned from competition for life. But because of a loophole, the two are able to team up in pair competition to regain their popularity and become the first male/male figure skating partners to win a medal.
Heder is funny in that Charlie Brown, gosh-darn-it kind of way. That being said, his performance is still a far cry from fall-out-of-your-seat funny.
As for Chazz, in many ways he resembles any other previous Will Ferrell character. He's obnoxious, arrogant, and most of the time half naked. He says ludicrous things in a serious manner. If he's on the screen, he's acting larger than life.
For some people, this type of thing might be getting a little old. What's next, Ferrell pretending to be a professional jump roper?
What it ultimately comes down is how much viewers enjoy Ferrell's antics. He perfected his technique on SNL and brought it to the big screen with hits like "Old School" and "Anchorman." Has the style worn out its welcome? Not quite yet.
Besides Ferrell and Heder, the film is stocked with a great supporting cast. Will Arnett ("Arrested Development") and Amy Poehler ("Mean Girls") play the brother and sister figure skating pair, Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg. Their natural chemistry as real married couple makes things a little incestuous, giving the audience a little awkward bit of comedy.
Jenna Fischer ("The Office") plays the guilt ridden third Van Waldenberg sibling, who is neglected by the family. Her romance with MacElroy makes for an enjoyable subplot. Nick Swardson's ("Reno 911: Miami") portrayal as MacElroy's obsessed stalker steals the few scenes he's in. Even Luke Wilson has a small cameo as a sex therapist.
Many professional figure skaters make cameos in the movie as well. The jokes are funnier when the audience can identify someone they know from the real sport partaking in the satire. A perfect example of this is when Will Ferrell asks former professional ice skater Nancy Kerrigan, "Are you an official? Because you are officially giving me a boner."
All the costumes are completely over the top. While MacElroy's peacock suit is ridiculous, the winner for best costume goes to the Van Waldenberg's mis-representation of street thugs. It comes complete with ripped denim jackets, fake tattoos and Timberland ice skates.
All said, "Blades of Glory" is a success. Even those disenchanted with Will Ferrell's antics will get enough laughs from the supporting to make it worth a movie ticket.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
