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| Cast and Credits |
| Cast: |
Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, William Fichtner, Jenna Fischer, Romany Malco, Nick Swardson, Rob Corddry, Craig T. Nelson |
| Director: |
Will Speck, Josh Gordon |
| Writer: |
Jeff Cox, Craig Cox, John Altschuler, David Krinsky |
| Rating: |
Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, a comic violent image and some drug references. |
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Reviewed By: Erin Cullin
Rating: 3.5/10
Blades of Glory, Will Ferrell's latest film, skated into theaters last weekend, capturing box office gold with $33 million in ticket sales. This virtually guarantees that we will continue to see Ferrell in silly parody films, as opposed to the more cerebral comedies that actually showcase his comedic talent. That is, I suppose, good for Ferrell, who will continue to rake in millions of dollars to act like a fool and a shame for people like me who believe that he could be doing so much more with his career.
As its title suggests, Ferrell's latest parody satirizes the world of professional skating. The film tells the story of Chazz Michael Michaels (Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder), the world's top male skaters who find themselves permanently banned from the sport after becoming involved in a fight during a skating competition. When they discover a loophole that allows them to compete together in pairs skating, they put aside their differences in order to revive their failing careers.
Blades of Glory represents the directorial debut for Will Speck and Josh Gordon who, prior to this film, had resumes which consisted of credits for two short comedy films (one of which was actually nominated for an Oscar) and a series of television commercials. It is also the first film for screenwriters Jeff Cox and Craig Cox. After watching this film, I believe that I am safe in assuming that Speck and Gordon have abandoned any aspirations of actually winning an Oscar.
I had the opportunity to attend an advance press screening of this film while I was in Toronto for work. What I found most interesting during this screening was the fact that, although we were watching a comedy, no-one was laughing. Sure, there were a few amusing scenes that generated the occasional smile or giggle, but as we left the theater I saw more people rolling their eyes than laughing about the film that they had just viewed. It was the general consensus that it was just not that funny.
This film features Will Ferrell performing more of the same silly comedy that we have seen in films such as Anchorman and Talladega Nights. This is a shame, because Ferrell has shown in films such as Melinda and Melinda, The Producers and Stranger Than Fiction that, in the hands of a competent director, he has the range to deliver a more intelligent comedy, but he chooses instead to continue to make films like this. I suppose it is an easy choice, because intelligent comedies do not pay as well, but it is nevertheless disappointing.
Ferrell's co-star, Jon Heder, actually deserves credit for choosing this project. In his relatively short career, Heder has managed to make one amusing film, Napoleon Dynamite. Since then, he has managed to attach himself to a string of box office bombs, including The Benchwarmers and School for Scoundrels. Blades of Glory represents a career high for Heder, a mediocre comedian whose only hope for success in the film industry will be to stay as far away as possible from films starring David Spade and Billy Bob Thornton and to continue to attach himself to projects starring Will Ferrell.
Blades of Glory features the same cheap gags that we have come to expect from a film of this genre. In other words, viewers can expect to see rampant homophobia, crude sexual references and gestures, and jokes about bodily functions. Even as I write this review, I am continuing to experience unpleasant flashbacks as I recall the sight of Will Ferrell's hairy chest and misshapen abdomen.
Unless you are a fan of Will Ferrell's "special" brand of parody films, I cannot imagine why anyone else would want to waste their money to see Blades of Glory. There is nothing new or original in this film and it is simply not funny. If you really have the urge to watch a parody, then rent something by Mel Brooks. If it is Will Ferrell that you want to see, then rent Stranger Than Fiction (even Anchorman is funnier). But, whatever you do, if you find yourself at the theater, I urge you to skate past Blades of Glory.
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