There are those of us who love Will Ferrell and just about everything he’s done lately, and there are those of you who can’t stand the guy. Read that last sentence carefully and you’ll be able to determine which one I am, but I’m sure you won’t have to read much past this sentence to figure it out anyways. Starting back with A Night at the Roxbury and ranging to Old School and Anchorman, comedically I can’t get enough of these nonsense full movies. Surprisingly I didn’t check this one out in the theatres, but I eagerly welcome the opportunity now.
Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder, School For Scoundrels) are rival world class figure skaters. During the 2002 WinterSport games the two tie for a Gold medal which leads to a scuffle, ultimately banning the two from the sport. Three years go by and the two are working dead end skate related jobs, Chazz is a drunken ice show performer, and Jimmy sells skates at a local sports store. Jimmy then learns from an obsessed fan (Nick Swardson, The Benchwarmers) that through a loophole he is only banned from singles figure skating, not pairs. Of course one thing leads to another and after a hilarious fist fight, Jimmy teams up with Chazz against both their volition. What ensues is some pretty funny stuff as the two try to get ready in time for the WinterSport games in Montreal.
Although Blades of Glory wasn’t the best Will Ferrell movie to date, it was still extremely enjoyable. Sure there were some dull parts like in any movie, but there were some hilarious parts as well. There were some great one liners and physical comedy. Everything from the figure skating routines to Craig T. Nelson was great. Ultimately this is on par with what fans of Will Ferrell have come to expect, and of course I haven’t forgotten about Jon Heder. Of course we all know him as Napoleon form Napoleon Dynamite, but since then he has proven to be able to be good for a laugh. Of course he has once again managed to play an amusing nice yet socially awkward character. It seems he pairs up quite well with other comedy actors, and it’s no exception here with Will Ferrell, the two really seemed to hit it off. Their constant bickering back and forth throughout the movie was great, and apparently a lot of it adlibbed.
To put it plainly, Blades of Glory is a good comedy, of course those of you who haven’t liked any other of the dubbed “Frat Pack” films, this won’t be an exception. But for those of you like me who can’t get enough of this nonsense you’re going to like this one.
Video
Presented in 2.35:1 Blades of Glory can look good, but is restricted to a sometimes plain looking backdrop. Most of the film of course takes place on the ice, and is at times devoid of color. When color is on screen it will often looked washed out, failing to produce anything noteworthy. However the various and unique costumes do display something special. The colors and detail look great here and is a definite highlight of the transfer. Black levels look solid for the most part, but are the most susceptible to grain. Apart from the that print is in great condition, with no speckling or compression artifacts. Although lackluster in some cases, Blades of Glory still manages to provide a good looking transfer.
Audio
DreamWorks has included a standard but effective 5.1 Dolby Digital track for Blades of Glory. The dance routines offer the best use of rear channels and bass. The soundtrack consists of songs from The Scorpions and Queen, each one spices up the otherwise front heavy track. Dialogue sounds great and the screaming of the crowd in the arena adds depth to the track. For a comedy the track succeeds and provides a good soundstage for the movie.
Special Features
The single disc comes jam packed with features, almost all worth checking out. The robust beind the scenes section will be the must see for fans as it provides all you need to know about the films production.
- Deleted Scenes – (09:05) A set of 4 deleted scenes that offer a few more laughs. The second deleted scene where Chazz helps Jimmy get ready for his date is extremely funny and actually adds some impressive back story for Chazz.
- Gag Reel – (02:08) Your standard gag reel, with the usual messed up lines. We always get to see some wipe outs on the ice.
- Alternative Takes – (08:49) Some alternative takes of scenes already in the movie. Some funny stuff here, but the best takes made it into the movie.
- Behind the Scenes – A set of behind the scenes feature. (08:55) Return to Glory focuses on t he actual making of the movie. We are given interviews with Producer Ben Stiller, actors Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. (06:05) Celebrities on Thin Ice shows us the training needed for the actors to perform moves on ice. Actor Will Arnett was the most experienced, while Jon Heder had very little ice time. (04:38) Cooler Than Ice focuses on the unique costumes used in the film. (05:50) Arnett & Poehler interviews the two actors as they joke about the various cast members.
- 20 Questions with Scott Hamilton – (05:00) Interview with figure skater Scott Hamilton. Scott discusses his beginnings, but the interview is actually light hearted. Fans of Hamilton will enjoy this most.
- Moviefone Unscripted – (09:53) An unscripted interview with actors Will Ferrell, Jon Heder and Will Arnett. I always enjoy Moviefone interviews as the questions come from fans rather than an actual. As expected Will Ferrell is extremely funny here.
- MTV Interstitials – (01:39) A set of 3 promotional spots for Blades of Glory.
- Photo Gallery – 3 sets of photos from the movie.
- Hector: Portrait of a Psychofan – (03:22) Actor Nick Swardson in character as stalker Hector. Nick Swardson is funny in small doses, at 3 minutes even that is too long for him to be on screen.
- Music Video – Blades of Glory By Bo Bice
Final Thoughts
As far as stupid comedy movies goes, I really liked Blades of Glory. There was a lot of great moments ranging from quips to long lasting physical scenes. This is a good watch for anyone who is a fan of Will Ferrell or the Frat Pack movies. The audio and video were rather well done, teamed with some impressive features this a must have for fans. If you don’t want to commit to the buy, give it a rent you shouldn’t be left disappointed.
