Review: Blades of Glory

By Suzy Quinn

The only thing missing from Blades of Glory is a cameo from Tonya Harding. Other than that, I have no regrets for rendering myself devoted to this simple cinematic delight. At a mere hour and a half, it is more appetizer than entrée, but each of the 90 minutes is concentrated in parody and self-mockery. It’s indulgent with references to politics, celebrity, competition, and sexuality, but then again, so is capitalism. At the core of this movie, though, is sheer gluttonous hilarity, as packaged by the captivating duo of Will Ferrell and Jon Heder.

"Flash! He's a miracle!"

Blades tells the story of two top men’s single figure skaters, the defiant “Lone Wolf” Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and his rival, America’s favorite Good Boy Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder), who rely upon a skating federation loophole to revive their respective careers after the two erupt in a high-profile fight the same night they tie for the gold medal. They reluctantly join forces to enter the pair’s skating category, and their struggle to the top attracts as many doubters as admirers. The evil force of brother-sister team Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg (real-life husband-wife team Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) set out to destroy their top opponents, and the action predictably culminates when they compete at the world championships.

As an occasional supporter of the Will Ferrell franchise, I was skeptical after my disappointment with the base humor of Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. It seemed even crasser than the other Ferrell flicks, but then again I am one of the only people (in the age bracket of 18-24) who has yet to see Old School. The trailers playing on TV imply a sort of homogeneity with the low-brow comedy genre, “just another one of those movies…”, but ultimately are wise not to reveal the most bankable lines and scenes. I can’t remember whether Anchorman’s promos alluded to its particular breed of comic brilliance, but trailers are supposed to be accessible by the general public. And everyone should want to see Blades of Glory.

If decapitation makes you nauseous, or if you experience genital-inflicted pain on vicarious levels, then Blades may be too much to handle. If you have not found the other films listed within the review amusing or entertaining, you probably will not enjoy it. Otherwise, Blades of Glory is a worthy addition to the line of films aimed at a Facebook-friendly, YouTube-using crowd who will undoubtedly exploit the film’s side-splitting sequences (note the scenes of team-training and fan worship). Will Ferrell’s performance is priceless; his shirtless antics are alive and well. A hairy chest has never been more satiable!

Another token Ferrell trait is the big emotional breakdown where Ferrell’s character becomes hysterically vulnerable, and Blades has a few of those times. Even the great size of Will is reason enough to approve of the casting choice as a figure skater. And yet, it is the casting of Jon Heder as Will’s bejeweled naïve adversary that ultimately grabs the audience. His innocence onscreen makes us want to care for him, much like I used to care for My Little Ponies. His comic timing rivals Ferrell’s; they are expertly matched, playing as though reunited brothers who were raised by a parent a piece, mother and father separated by their own political and social differences of opinion. The chemistry is unmistakable – indeed, men’s pair’s skating seems the only logical choice after we feel the thrill of their first triumphant routine together (it’s called “Fire and Ice”, get it?)

"Yes, I said mindbottleing. It's when my thoughts are like all caught up in a bottle and I can't get them out."

Ferrell and Heder embark on new territory, where neither player is greater than the other. They are equally outstanding, equally given screen-time and back-story, and equally hilarious. Without them, it would struggle to be considered a buddy flick, which is its ultimate asset. Even besides the comedy factor, Blades of Glory remains focused on the dynamic of friendship between these two seeming mismatches. It is a hopeful, life-affirming movie, but should probably be saved for viewers aged 13 and older.

The supporting cast dazzles with star-power from the worlds of television and figure skating. Poehler and Arnett provoke their share of laughs, too, taking incestuous humor and making it their own. Jenna Fischer (of The Office fame) plays their manager-sister who falls for Jimmy against the will of her siblings. Comedian Nick Swardson plays an obsessive fan whose tactics are nothing short of priceless. And there are a number of appearances by the best of skating past and present, Scott Hamilton being my personal favorite (though there are many to choose from). TV vets Craig T. Nelson, William Fichtner and William Daniels round out a solid secondary cast.

It is hard to watch this movie without comparing it to the past blockbusters of its leads, Anchorman and Napoleon Dynamite. This could end up being as successful as The 40 Year-Old Virgin or Dodgeball. There is little reason to believe it will have the cult following of Heder’s claim-to-fame, or Ferrell’s earlier film Zoolander. For what it is, though – a quick romp with contemporary slapstick genius – Blades of Glory does capture the dream.