2008 Woodie Awards
'Blades of Glory' reviewed
The clock ticks on Will Ferrell's career
by Wesley Case
Issue date: 4/10/07 Section: Mosaic
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Paramount Pictures
Rating: 2 and 1/2 stars (out of 4)
Another year, another "Frat Pack" offering. The term, coined by USA Today, describes a tight-knit group of actors that includes, but is not limited to, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Owen and Luke Wilson. The latest Frat Pack film is the figure skating ditty "Blades of Glory," starring Ferrell and Jon Heder, and produced by Stiller. Unsurprisingly, the film runs like an extended episode of a favorite brainless sitcom: fast, shallow and, most importantly, instantly gratifying.
Ferrell, as Chazz Michael Michaels, and Heder begin as rivals. Michaels' skating represents fire - on the ice, he is emotional, unconventional and uses his sex appeal to draw in fans and high scores. Heder, whose acting can't stray far from the stale bread and butter that was "Napoleon Dynamite," plays Jimmy MacElroy, the ice to Michaels' fire due to his technical skating and statuesque personality. After their heated rivalry leads to their banishment from competition, a loop-hole is found: Michaels and MacElroy can perform as pairs. And while there are speed bumps, their skating improves, as does their relationship.
This is where the fun comes. Directors Will Speck and Josh Gordon are smart enough to know the pacing of a film such as this is the No. 1 priority. Too often, dumb-funny films are bogged down by ill-advised plot turns, but not with "Blades of Glory" - the film is roughly 90 minutes and frequently stays on track, most likely because of the strong supporting cast.
The Van Waldenbergs, the brother-sister pair and main competition for Michaels and MacElroy, are played with pinpoint hilarity by Will Arnett ("Arrested Development") and Saturday Night Live's Amy Poehler, while Fire and Ice's choreographer is played by the always-consistent Romany Malco. While Ferrell and Heder will receive the comedic spotlight, it's these characters that make the film truly funny.
This only accentuates the film's gift and curse - Ferrell. Many scenes feel as if the directors allowed Ferrell free reign to ad-lib whatever was on his mind. On paper, this seems like a fine idea, as it's the what-will-he-say-next type of comedy Ferrell prefers. But he's a better actor than even he admits (proven by his heart-breakingly funny lead role in "Stranger Than Fiction").
Ferrell is at a crossroads. His left-field, talking head approach is waning, as his characters are having trouble carrying films ("Anchorman" or even his guest spot in "Wedding Crashers"). Luckily for Ferrell, "Blades of Glory" is a team effort and his support brought their bats. The film's efficiceny lies in its simplicity - the jokes come fast, not giving the audience time to second guess what's funny and what isn't. But the Frat Pack, especially Ferrell, should be concerned - the audience can only bear the same punchline so many times.
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