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Review #438 of 365
Movie Review of Blades of Glory (2007) [PG-13] 93 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $12.00
Where Viewed: United Artists Denver Pavilions Stadium 15, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 31 March 2007
Time: 11:50 a.m.
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
DVD Release Date: 28 August 2007
Directed by: Josh Gordon (Culture) and Will Speck (Culture)
Screenplay by: Jeff Cox and Craig Cox
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Will Ferrell (Stranger Than Fiction) • Jon Heder (School for Scoundrels) • Will Arnett (Let's Go to Prison) • Amy Poehler (Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny) • Jenna Fischer (Slither) • William Fichtner ("Prison Break") • Craig T. Nelson (The Family Stone) • Romany Malco (The 40 Year Old Virgin) • Nick Swardson (Reno 911!: Miami) • Scott Hamilton (On Edge) • William Daniels ("Boy Meets World") • Luke Wilson (Idiocracy)
Soundtrack for Blades of Glory: Download now from 
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Has Will Ferrell gone too far? Mr. Ferrell was easily the most underrated comedic actor of the year worthy of consideration for an Academy Award® nomination for both Talladega Nights and Stranger than Fiction. Classically adored for his role in Anchorman—personally, I didn't care for that film—he was snubbed and overlooked for these two vastly superior roles, performances, and films in general by the media and his fans alike. So, what's a guy to do? How about take a role as a sex-addict, pudgy, alcoholic supposed figure skating legend with a name that makes Ricky Bobby sound positively normal, Chazz Michael Michaels?
Will Ferrell is Figure Skating(Click Still Photo to Purchase)
And not just any figure skating legend, but a legend so far out there his fans and the media simply have grown to accept his profanity, obnoxious and repulsive gestures, advances, and explicit routines as simply part of his persona. Then push it further. Have him engage in a brawl with a younger male figure skater, set the Winter Game mascot on fire, and get banned from skating, only to resurrect his career three years later by teaming up with his Winter Games foe, former child prodigy skater himself, Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder), for the world's first all male pair skating team!
Jon Heder is Dynamite(Click Still Photo to Purchase)
Yeah! This will finally bring Will Ferrell the recognition he so richly deserves. Truthfully, if this whole thing sounds a bit odd, well, it is, and the film knows it and capitalizes on it in some amusing ways. Nonetheless, it serves as yet another example of the many, many blatant gender barriers that still exist in the USA where two women skating together would probably be accepted long before two men. So, for taking this risk and making it happen, you've got to give the screenwriters Jeff and Craig Cox and co-directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck some credit. While the story is far too full of needlessly gross or nasty little parts that veer it far off course from being in the same league as Talladega Nights (and not nearly as hilarious), it is quite funny in parts. Excising the nasty and over-the-top parts, however, would have yielded a film that could have been a true and lasting classic more worthy of the talents of the cast. Listing all of these would take to long and be no less gross or nasty than they were in the film, but I'll reference some to give an idea what I mean. Jimmy's battle with t.p. to acquire the handcuff key, Chazz's Technicolor® yawns within the wizard head, the entire Hector (Nick Swardson) the Jimmy Stalker character, the gruesome North Korean Iron Lotus death and mayhem video, violent contact with parts of the male anatomy, etc. Most of these parts weren't very funny or shouldn't be funny, I mean they might be funny to fans of Johnny Knoxville's films (not Dukes of Hazzard). What's really funny, is the melting of the ice between Jimmy and Chazz as the two harmonize to return to the sport they love, get over their differences, and learn from each other. They two must learn to deal with the hang-ups of two men doing what has traditionally been left to male-female couples. And why not? What's also funny is the impact their entry into the sport has on the leading pair darlings, brother and sister Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg executed with a sort of Sigfried and Roy-esque panache by Will Arnett and Amy Poehler.
Will Arnett and Amy Poehler are the Van Waldenbergs(Click Still Photo to Purchase)
What's funny is Craig T. Nelson back as "The Coach" for the pair working to get them into shape to compete using the assistance of choreographer and miracle worker Jesse (Romany Malco). Sure, there are some places, we can all wish this film did not go. There are probably a lot of purists out there who have already begun to campaign to get it written into the rules that two men may never participate in pair skating—who knows maybe it's already been written. No doubt, personally, I am a fan of breaking down these barriers and giving all people the opportunity to find their passion. If this comedic gesture helps move things in the right direction, then it has made a valuable contribution. As for the film as entertainment, it scores in the middle because it took too many low blow approaches that were unnecessary. Finally, the effects crew and the skating doubles for Mr. Ferrell and Mr. Heder, Chad Brennan and Ethan Burgess respectively, deserve quite a bit of praise for their seamless ability to make Ferrell and Heder really look like they are actually doing all these incredible skating moves. I've never wanted to see a "how'd they do that" DVD extra more in my life. Oh, and one more thing…for those 'Internet Movie Data Base FAQ film discussionists' here's a question for you…when Stranz is chasing Chazz all over Montréal why don't they just remove their skates?
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
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Other Projects Featuring Blades of Glory (2007)
Cast Members
Will Ferrell
• Jon Heder • Will ArnettAmy Poehler
• Jenna Fischer • William Fichtner#REF!
• Romany Malco • Nick SwardsonScott Hamilton
• William Daniels • Luke WilsonCo-Directors
Josh Gordon
• Will SpeckCo-Screenwriters
Jeff Cox
• Craig Cox| CD Soundtrack | DVD | VHS |
| Poster |
Blades of Glory (2007) Review-lite [150-word cap]
Has Will Ferrell gone too far? In Blades of Glory, he takes plays Chazz Michael Michaels, an aged, has been figure skater banned from the sport after a ruckus on the ice with co-medalist Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder). The two reunite three years later when an obsessive fan points out there's no rule excluding them from pairs competitions. Craig T. Nelson plays the coach that helps create this new duo frigid force in pair figure skating. Give the screenwriters Jeff and Craig Cox and co-directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck some credit. While the story is far too full of needlessly gross or nasty little parts that veer it far off course from being in the same league as Talladega Nights (and not nearly as hilarious), it is quite funny in parts. The film and Ferrell do go a bit over the top; but, still, it's an entertaining film.
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