Blades of Glory

"Chazz Michael Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy ARE figure skating! Boom!"

What it is about
Men's figure skating rivals Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) tie for the Gold medal in the World Wintersport Games. After dishonoring themselves and the sport by brawling during the award ceremony, they are stripped of their medals and banned from men's figure skating. Their only hope of reclaiming the gold: team up and form the first 2-man figure skating pair. Being bitter rivals and complete opposites on and off the ice, will this unlikely team beat the odds and bring home the gold?

What I think about it
This movie is solidly entertaining and steadily supplies the laughs while progressing through the silly plot. Just the premise of Will Ferrell as a figure skater (a gold-medalist, nonetheless!) is hilarious. Although not as funny as previous sports satires by Farrell - Kicking and Screaming, Talladega Nights - he once again delivers a solid performance as an arrogant and self-absorbed, yet lovable, pseudo-celebrity. Fans of Ron Burgundy and Ricky Bobby will find Chazz Michael Michaels very familiar. Farrell is not the only cast member sticking close to familiar territory though. Will Arnett, Craig T. Nelson, and Amy Poehler all deliver performances that feel very familiar. You might be surprised, however, by Jenna Fischer donning lingerie as Katie Van Waldenberg or Romany Malco as the effeminate choreographer Jesse. Interestingly, the performance of Jon Heder seems to intentionally avoid any similarities to his famous character Napoleon Dynamite.
Ferrell and Heder work well together, with an on-screen chemistry that exhibits a brotherly relationship which contributes to the likeability of both characters. Although most of the jokes are delivered by Ferrell or Heder, the excellent supporting performances keep the movie skating by smoothly while delivering laugh after laugh.
Overall, this movie is funny and enjoyable throughout, and is definitely worth watching.

Why I wanted to watch it
I am a fan of both Will Farrell and Jon Heder. How could I miss a movie starring both of these comedic champions clad in Lycra and ice skates?

The Scores
BetweenTheScreens: 7.5 out of 10.0
Movies.com: B+
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 70%
Yahoo! Movies: B-

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Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Balls of Fury
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Dodgeball - A True Underdog Story

Film Facts
Cast: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Jenna Fischer
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, and some drug references
Release dates: March 30, 2007 (Theater); August 28, 2007 (DVD)

Movie Links
Official Website
IMDb
Movies.com
Rotten Tomatoes
Yahoo! Movies
Buy Blades of Glory (Widescreen Edition)from Amazon.com