Film Reviews

Blades of Glory

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Craig T. Nelson
• Details: US / 93mins (15A).

Two rival figure skaters - fey Jimmy MacElroy (Heder) and man's man Chazz Michael Michaels (Ferrell) - are banned for life when they fight on the podium after sharing gold in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Three-and-a-half years later, due to a loophole in the system, they are forced to put aside their differences and enter a competition as the world's first male skating duo. But will current champions Stranz (Will Arnett) and Fairchild (Amy Poehler) Waldenberg upset their plans? Blades Of Glory is Zoolander on ice and, yes, it's as funny as it sounds. The writers try their best to squeeze in as much jokes as they can and, although some of them fall flat, they're more hit than miss. From Heder's increasingly bizarre costumes (they bring to mind Jean Reno's terrible swimming trunks in The Big Blue) to Ferrell's macho man pastiche to Craig T. Nelson's infamous Iron Lotus manoeuvre, the fun keeps coming. Ferrell is a funny man, there's no two ways about it, and although it looks like he's not trying a leg at times here, I'd still rather see a half-assed Ferrell doing comedy than anyone else. Heder too looks better than usual, but lacks the improv skill that Ferrell commands.

Review by Gavin Burke