The Film

Will Ferrell is the king of comedy, at least for now. Move over Ben Stiller, Jim Carrey, and Mike Myers, with successive hits like Anchorman and Talledega Nights, Ferrell is the undisputed champ right now. His razor-sharp improvisation and comedic nuances have helped inspire a new breed of comedy that is showing no signs of slowing down. Blades of Glory furthers Ferrell’s legacy and makes for, simply put, a hilarious experience.

Ferrell stars as sex-addict/pro figure skater Chazz Michael Michaels. He is the Don Juan of figure skating, oozing sexuality and cockiness. Michaels may not be Ferrell’s most well-rounded character (Ron Burgundy takes that prize in my book), but Ferrell nails it with a combination of pitch-perfect delivery mixed with classic physical comedy. Jon Heder co-stars as Jimmy MacElroy, an orphan child-prodigy figure skater who is adopted by a millionaire and nurtured into the epitome of figure skating perfection. When the two rivals end up in a tie after a major competition they get into a brawl that finds them both banned from figure skating. Jimmy is abandoned by his adopted father and Chazz ends up as a drunk skating on a children’s show. It takes the vision of Jimmy’s former coach (Craig T. Nelson) to bring the two back as the first-ever same-sex figure skating pair. The only obstacle in their path to the gold is sibling pair Stranz (Will Arnett) and Fairchild (Amy Poehler) Van Waldenberg. Arnett and Poehler also turn in excellent performances as the strangely sex-charged brother/sister team.

At 93-minutes, the film is constantly moving. I can’t stand two-hour comedies as I find very few of them can sustain a heightened level of humor for that long. Blades of Glory never drags, it is literally joke after joke after joke. I’m not saying it is the best thing since sliced bread, or even that it is a classic, but for a film to be so consistent in its comedy in an achievement in of itself. Trust me, if you like Will Ferrell then you’ll get a kick out of this one.

The DVD

The video is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and is as pretty as any DVD coming out these days. The outrageous costumes are vibrant and detailed, compression artifacts are non-existent, and the print is pristine. The only way this could look better is on high definition.

The audio is offered in English/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/Spanish subtitles. The track is clear and balanced during dialogue heavy moments and booming with atmosphere during the high-energy skating scenes. I have no complaints here.

The Extras

A healthy dose of special features are offered in a serious of short-but-sweet segments.

“Return to Glory” is a 15-minute making-of featurette that would be a standard bore-fest, but the participants keep it light-hearted enough that it makes for an amusing watch.

“Celebrities on Thin Ice” is a 6-minute look at what it was like to train actors to be ice skaters.

“Arnett & Poehler: A Family Affair” is a 6-minute interview with the couple.

“Cooler Than Ice: The Super-Sexy Costumes of Skating” is a 4-minute piece on costume design.

“20 Questions is Scott Hamilton” is 5 minutes of exactly that.

“Hector: Portrait of a Pyschofan” is a Nick Swardson reprising his role as the stalker and gushing about Jimmy for 3 minutes.

“Moviefone Unscripted” is a 9-minute EPK that is only worth watching to see Ferrell crack wise during the interviews.

Four Deleted Scenes run 9 minutes and are as solid as the moments left in the film. Rarely do I recommend watching deleted scenes, but if you liked the movie you won’t want to miss out on these.

The Alternate Takes run 9 minutes and anyone who has seen Ferrell’s improvisation knows there is a lot to laugh at here. It further proves why Ferrell is in the upper echelon of comedy.

Also offered are a 2-minute Gag Reel, the “Blades of Glory” Music Video by Bo Bice, Photo Galleries, MTV Commercials, and Previews.

Final Thoughts

Blades of Glory is rapid-fire comedy put on a stacked disc. Any fan of Will Ferrell’s comedy style should pick this one up right away. – Jeff Ritchie