Blades of Glory

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

The comic idea behind Blades of Glory is such a natural, you have to wonder why no one has come up with it before now. Two ice skating stars and rivals in the rink—the macho, leather jacketed Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and the fey, bejeweled Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder)—are stripped of their gold medals and banned from men's singles competition for life after they get into a knock-down brawl. Years later, Michaels is a drunken sex addict working in kiddie ice shows and MacElroy is selling shoes. Through the efforts of a rabid fan, they discover a loophole that would allow them to compete together as the first all-male figure skating pairing in the sport's history. At first, both balk, but their coach (Craig T. Nelson) sees great potential and convinces them they have a shot at regaining their former glory—but only as a team. When their triple lutz talents return and it becomes apparent they really could challenge for the championship again, archrival brother-and-sister pair champs Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg (Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) set out to destroy them before they get the chance. Every conceivable angle is milked for all its worth in this riotous premise that sends up the world of figure skating and sets it on its ass. Ferrell and Heder playing total opposites are the perfect pair. Blades of Glory is pure hilarity, a gold-medal winner with HUGE laughs. Check your brain at the box office for this one, and you won't be disappointed.

Share