(U-WIRE) COLUMBIA, S.C. – Ever since Will Ferrell and Jon Heder came close to over-exposing themselves over the past couple years, fans have had to keep their fingers crossed over each release for fear they’d both go off the unfunny deep end. Luckily, it seems “Talladega Nights” got Ferrell back on track as the hairy genius we all know and love, and Heder’s at least not acting like he’s still in “Napoleon Dynamite.”
With “Blades of Glory,” Ferrell plays an overly masculine, extremely dimwitted character, much like those he’s played in the past. This time, instead of news cameras or race cars, Ferrell straps on a pair of ice skates and joins Heder in the apparently cutthroat arena of male-male ice-skating.
“Blades of Glory” is one of those movies that could either be hilarious or completely worthless. On one hand, it’s a movie about the first male-male pair in professional figure skating. On the other hand … it’s a movie about the first male-male pair in professional figure skating.
“Blades of Glory” is every bit over-the-top as it should be. It takes every bad costume and terrible song you’d expect from the realm of ice dancing and pumps the cheesiness through the roof.
In the midst of all the sequins and face glitter, Ferrell and Heder’s rivalry-turned-partnership is actually fun to watch. Yes, they are two grown men in ice skates bickering about who is more manly, but that’s exactly why it’s funny.
Most of the dialogue between the characters, especially between Ferrell and Heder, feels improvised. While they’re never flying by the seat of their pants, you never get the feeling that everyone is reading from a set script. Even Heder, whose character isn’t nearly as out-there as Ferrell’s, does a good job of keeping up with the pace of the conversations.
Honorable mentions go to Amy Poehler (“Saturday Night Live”) and Jenna Fischer (“The Office”), both of whom steal the majority of their scenes. Poehler plays a great ice queen type with all of her evil plotting and incestuous undertones. Meanwhile, Fischer gets her mention for generally being the prettiest and most adorable person on camera. You’ll want to hug her.
“Blades of Glory” is a very funny movie. It’s not as consistently funny as “Talladega Nights,” but it is worlds funnier than it promised to be.
While the subject should obviously make the funniest movie in years, Ferrell and Heder seemed from the trailers like they might just be mailing their performances in. Honestly, a “My Humps” reference is not going to be funny whether it’s Ferrell saying it or not.
“Blades of Glory” is the homoerotic spectacle of male-male figure skating that you probably think it is. Ferrell and Heder, a strong pair who probably should have worked together sooner, take the comedy to the bank. It’s dumb in a good way, but it’s still worth your time.