Are you ready for a little slice of brilliance? Well, that is going a little too far, but there is no denying that Blades of Glory has some very funny moments, enough to carry the film through to the end, while not offering up as much satire as there could have been. This is a movie that was made to be an over-the-top spectacle, it was not made to be a hard-hitting commentary on the sport of figure skating. In that respect, it is kind of like the stepbrother to Ferrell's NASCAR parody, Talladega Nights.
The story centers on the rivalry between Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell), a drunken sex-addict rock star of a skater, and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder), an effeminate perfectionist who lacks spirit. During Olympic competition, the polar opposite duo tie for the gold. This leads to an altercation that results in their permanent expulsion from men's figure skating competition. This sends the two on a downward spiral into oblivion. Chazz, the man who needed no one else, has found help in a bottle and with whatever women he can find, while Jimmy works a sporting goods store. Then through a stroke of genius, it is discovered that they can still compete in pairs, leading to the unlikely pairing of the two rivals.
Blades of Glory covers familiar ground and doesn't really strike out in any new directions. The biggest problem with the film is that it moves along in spurts and leaps rather than having a strong flow. The plot moves along in those in-between areas that link the moments where Ferrell can carry the comedic weight. Heder has his moments, but feels rather flat when he doesn't have Ferrell to carry him, much like the characters' skating.
Article comments
1 - Lisa McKay
Congratulations! This article has been selected for syndication to Boston.com, where it will be enjoyed by even more readers.
2 - Phillip Winn
Since I really can't stand Will Ferrell at all, I'm guessing I wouldn't like this movie, right?
3 - Chris Beaumont
No, if you don't like Ferrell, this movie is not going to change your mind. However, the one that could change your mind may be Stranger Than Fiction, it features a different look at Ferrell, and features a first rate script.
4 - mariella bouquiet
some parts were funny, some parts weren't.. overall, blades of glory didn't live up to my expectations.. i still think that his funniest movie is "Talladega Nights."