2008 Woodie Awards
Ferrell and Heder heat up the ice
Issue date: 4/9/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
|
PROS
Consistently funny
Well-chosen actors
Killer ending
CONS
Humor gets a little low-brow
It's the same sports movie you've seen dozens of times before, except this time the directors and actors were in on the joke.
What's great about Blades of Glory is the casting. It's the story of Chazz Michael Michaels, a brash and reckless figure skater from Detroit, and Jimmy MacElroy, his graceful and fastidious rival who lives to create the perfection through his routine. Who could possibly be better to playing them than Will Ferrell, improve comic genius and Jon Heder, who brought a short black-and-white indie film to comedy classic?
But that's not all. Even after they get to the point of teaming up MacElroy and Michaels must face the creepy brother/sister skating couple Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg, played by real-life husband-and-wife Will Arnett and Amy Poehler. The pair is basically your standard dastardly, cheating sports movie antagonists, and the comedian spouses provide them with just the right amount of selfish hubris.
Meanwhile their innocent younger sister Katie, played by The Office's Jenna Fischer, stars as the couple's "Igor" and gets into a star-crossed romance with MacElroy. Fischer apparently accepted the role after finding out she would appear in a scene where she plays on Chazz's weaknesses and tries to seduce him in sexy negligee. It's quite a revealing scene after knowing the actress for her girl-next-door role as receptionist for The Office.
Ferrell's portrayal as the manly prima donna and Rolling Stone cover boy really make you believe a cowboy can skate. Michaels' is known for reckless moves like shooting flames out of his hands. But there's a tragic chink in the hero's armor. He's addicted to sex.
Heder gives a great rendition of the traditional skinny, pretty, and uncomfortably fruity figure skating idol. Timid yet incredibly stuck-up, Heder shows through MacElroy that it's not only possible to play a character who has no personality, but is also hilarious.
Blades of Glory provides plenty of laughs throughout the movie and creates some great roles for fantastic characters. It might not warrant a DVD purchase but it's certainly worth the cost of admission. If nothing else, the completely campy and bizarre final moment is sure to leave viewers with something to talk about after they go home.
Be the first to comment on this story