Blades of Glory (Movie Review)

This film has received a fair mix of reviews; a small majority favorable, and a large minority quipping that it's "sporadically funny" but otherwise not something to get excited about.

My own impression was somewhere in the middle though — in the interest of full disclosure — I feel compelled to admit that I watched this while in a pretty foul mood.

I had hoped a good comedy might boost my spirits, but it didn't. Not significantly, anyway. Truth is, I had a hard time laughing at things even when I was able to appreciate the humor in them.

And therein lies the rub: I could tell — even as I sat distracted in my seat — that this was more consistently amusing than was Talladega Nights (2006), but still nowhere near as ridiculously funny as Anchorman (2004).

You see, I can recognize a decent comedy (or at least, according to my cinematic taste buds) even when my mood isn't ready for it. I laughed some, and was generally amused. But the disappointment of apartment hunting was fresh in my brain.

[I know, I know... it's very unprofessional to allow one's personal life to interfere with his/her "duty" — but this blog is designed in part to help me remember life events. Rest assured if I were receiving cash money for these reviews, I'd be all business. Which reminds me: I do accept checks, for anyone who's interested...]

However you look at it, this isn't a film for those of you who just don't "get" Will Ferrell's brand of humor. There are more silly voices, bad hair dos, and — yes, ladies — more of Will showing off his charmingly unique bod.

Ferrell stars as Chazz Michael Michaels, an Olympic skater banned from the sport after he and co-medalist Jimmy MacElroy (played by Jon Heder) broke out into a bloody brawl during the award ceremony.

Michaels is a bad boy trash talker with a little too much testosterone. MacElroy is the slightly effeminate sweetheart whose saccharine demeanor prompts the audience to throw teddy bears onto the ice after each performance.

Suffice it to say their rivalry clearly tips the balance into the realm of absolute contempt. And after they are both forced to retire from the ice, it becomes clear there's only one way for them to return: to enter into a different category, skating together in "pairs."

It probably comes as no surprise, then, that much of this film's humor is, in a way, derived from homophobia. I mean, the filmmakers intend for the audience to find this setup funny precisely because it defies the textbook definition of "pairs" (i.e. heterosexual) skating.

That said, it is funny. Not hilarious, but... funny. I also wasn't sure what to make of Heder's performance. I like him well enough, and I think he did a good job. But I also think this film would've been lost without Ferrell.

FINAL GRADE: B-