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Good, but "Blades" Doesn't Cut The Ice Will Ferrell continues his efforts to dominate the small, but apparently lucrative "sports comedy" genre with "Blades of Glory", a comedy about figure skaters, a subject ripe for parody and Ferrell is about the only person so uninhibited to take on such a role, the man will do anything for a laugh. So it would seem to be a match made in heaven. And "Blades" does have some laughs, and it is extremely stupid, but in a good, funny way, so why didn't I laugh more? Chazz Michael Michaels (Ferrell, continuing the tradition of giving his character's ludicrous names, i.e., Ricky Bobby, Ron Burgundy), vies for the gold medal in Men's Figure Skating at the World Passport Games. His main rival, Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder), adopted by his dad (William Fichtner) because he stood the best chance of winning a gold medal, is so famous he has a stalker. They tie at the Games and their egos get in the way during the medal ceremony causing the mascot to catch fire. The Skating Federation Committee (chaired by actor William Daniels, but populated with Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Nancy Kerrigan and Brian Boitano) immediately ban both from the sport. Three and a half years later, MacElroy's dad has disowned him and Jimmy now works in a sports shop. Michaels is now working in a low budget ice show. MacElroy learns of a loophole; he was banned from Men's Figure Skating, but he can still compete in pairs. Jimmy approaches Michaels at the ice show and they soon convince MacElroy's old coach (Craig T. Nelson) to help them train. The attention they garner makes Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg (real-life husband and wife Will Arnett, TV's "Arrested Development", and Amy Poehler, TV's "Saturday Night Live"), an incestuous brother and sister Pairs Figure Skating team, jealous. They will stop at nothing to remain number one and get another gold medal. They guilt trip their normal sister, Katie (Jenna Fischer, TV's "The Office"), into spying on the new competition. Directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck and written by a number of writers who have worked on previous films starring Will Ferrell, the film is tailor made as a showcase for Ferrel's talents. And this is part of the problem. Don't get me wrong, "Blades" has some laughs and Ferrell is very funny, he usually is. But Ferrell is, essentially, playing it safe here with a basic variation of the same character he has already played as Ron Burgundy and Ricky Bobby. Chazz Michael Michaels is dumb, a lummox who is amazingly a figure skating champion, and also a sex addict. These are all traits he seems to be channeling from the other characters he has already portrayed. When an actor surrounds themselves with the same writers and same director (or caliber of director) on a consistent basis, and they cater to the star's talents, how is the star ever going to grow and show us his true talents? Or remind us of the brilliance he once showed. This is one of the reasons why "Stranger than Fiction" was so great. Ferrell was working outside of his comfort zone and doing great work. Much more low key work, but great nonetheless. In "Blades of Glory", he plays a safer character almost guaranteeing the film will be a financial success ensuring a steady flow of $20 million paychecks. That said, just the sight of Ferrell, with his less than chiseled body, on figure skates, wearing Lycra costumes, is a funny image. And he plays into the stereotypical perception we have of sports stars, the world is theirs and everyone else is a guest. As his career hits the skids, he becomes a performer in an ice show, guzzling booze while in costume, and has a few funny moments. Later, as he goes to counseling for his sex addiction, the film takes a wrong turn. The idea is funny, but beyond a Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting, nothing funny is really done with it. Also, the film is PG-13 and constant references to sex addiction seem a little out of place for the majority of the audience. Jon Heder is good as Jimmy MacElvoy (and a major improvement from his last role in "School for Scoundrels"). Clearly patterned after skaters like Brian Boitano and Elvis Stoyko, MacElvoy has a shock of platinum blond hair, always perfectly coiffed, and seems most at home when skating and performing a tribute to peacocks. He is completely smitten with Katie and this leads to some sweet moments. As Jimmy and Chazz practice, Jimmy appears to be enjoying some of the hand holds Chazz is using, leading us to question if Jimmy is straight. It seems odd that in a film about figure skating, all of the lead characters are straight and there is never a question about their sexuality. In fact, Chazz seems to have the sexual addiction to erase any possibility that he isn't heterosexual. The same can be said of Will Arnett's character; he almost seems to be interested in his sister to erase any possibility of being gay. It won't fit. Please read the full review at thornhillatthemovies.com email this review to a friend
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