BLADES OF GLORY

93 Minutes

(Feature Film Directorial Debut for Josh Gordon and Will Speck)

A pair of rival Team U.S.A. ice skaters, Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder), tie for the gold at the 2002 Olympics, cause an embarrassing ruckus that turns into a major brawl on the winners' podium, and get banned for life from future competition. After 3 years of Chazz being part of a children's ice capade-type show (playing a monster wizard), and Jimmy working for a skate/ski shop, a die-hard Jimmy fan finds a loophole that states the two are eligible to compete in pairs competition. The problem is, there are only 2 days to find a partner and sign up for the try-outs. With the help of Jimmy's coach (Craig T. Nelson), he reunites the 2, teaches them to live and work together using their strengths, and offers them a winning advantage if they can master one of the most dangerous stunts, the Lotus. Their "Fire and Ice" routine gets them qualified to enter the Winter Games competition where their main rival is the U.S. brother and sister team, Stranz and Fairchild Waldenberg (real-life husband and wife Will Arnett and Amy Poehler), who will do whatever it takes to win. With their younger sister Katie's (Jenna Fischer) help, they attempt to break up team Chazz/Jimmy. It all plays out on the ice with outrageous costumes, routines, and a lot of what we all love Will Ferrell for - his over-the-top, no-holds barred characterizations (and his usual revealing body scenes). Here he is a selfish, egocentric, boozing, and sex-addicted skater. Heder holds his own, with some nods to his "Napoleon Dynamite" dance routine, and is the perfect skatemate. Arnett and Poehler give us a fair share of laugh-out-loud moments as well. And what some critics are calling lame, silly and raunchy, audiences are calling the #1 movie this weekend. If you like Will Ferrell you will like "Blades Of Glory." If you like to lose yourself in laughter, you will do so with "BOG." Keep a space open next to "Anchorman" and "Talladega Nights" on your DVD shelf - with all of the behind-the-scenes and extras sure to be a part of this package, you'll want to own it when it's released. Yes, folks, one joke can carry a movie if it's on skates and held by SNL favorite, Will Ferrell.

FYI:

None of the principal actors had ice-skating skills going into production, but they all went through training (Amy Poehler admitting that she was the worst and needed the most help.) They ended up holding their own for most of the fundamental routines that we see on the screen.