 |
| Directed By: |
| Josh Gordon, Will Speck |
| Starring: |
| Will Farrell, Jon Heder, Craig T. Nelson, Jenna Fischer |
The Cutting Edge (1992) meets Talladega Nights (2006)
It's only by pure morbid curiosity that I watch Will Farrell movies these days. Mostly because they are just that, Will Farrell movies. "Big Willy" has enjoyed a healthy career based on the merciless lampooning of the traditional American alpha male. This time, through the implausible incarnation of a whimsical, over-testosteroned professional ice skater named Chazz Michael Michaels, whose hyper-competitive ego gets him and his perfection-sensitive rival, Jimmy MacElroy (Heder), stripped of their gold medals and permanently banned from competitive singles skating. Their only hope for a comeback is to put aside their differences and compete in pairs skating, generally reserved for a male/female team. Not to be undone, current pairs favorites Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg, played halfheartedly by Will Arnett and Amy Poehler, plot against the unlikely duo in hopes of retaining their current reign.
During his routine Chazz Michael Michaels (Farrell) does a slow motion jump with full split, points at Jimmy (Heder) and mouths, "I want you."
Chazz: Nancy Kerrigan, are you an official? Because you're officially giving me a boner!
I miss the days of the spontaneously funny Will Farrell, when I had no idea what was coming and found myself reciting his ridiculously funny ad lib at friendly gatherings. Peoples heads popping up from yards away in recognition of the laughter they too had experienced once upon a time. Days when Farrell lines could make new friends and raise the morale of a nation. Alas, I mourn those days lost to over sensationalized, cheap comedy that in the end leads me to shrug my shoulders in indifference.
Blades of Glory boasts some decent comedy, but not without channeling it from some other SNL skit in some other movie. Heder's ability to bob his head rhythmically or Farrell's trademark shirtless gags are more of a play on their previous popularity than genuine wit. The rest is a medley of tactless sight gags and Chazz's unconvincing struggle with the downside of nymphomania. I don't know if Will is just overbearing or if Heder simply doesn't have what it takes. Either way, neither actor adds anything new to their repertoire. The unnecessary side plot romance between Jimmy and third wheel little sister Katie Van Waldenberg (Jenna Fischer) has less spark than a can of beets for Christmas.
I know it would be easy to just flag Farrell's career as dead in the water a la Jim Carry and jump ship while I can, but I really feel, or at least hope, Farrell's longevity as a shtick comedian still has potential with the right cast. To date, I find Anchorman (2004) to be Farrell's most resonant and successful film, owing a lot of its cult status success to the dynamic of its co-stars. However, Farrell's over-promoted follow-up film, Talladega Nights (2006), employs a mediocre co-cast and forgettable performances only a true Will Farrell fan can endure. Blades of Glory mimics that unfortunate lack of strong characters who all seem to use Farrell's antics as a crutch for their own.
In the end, all I can do is shrug my shoulders and say that Blades of Glory wasn't bad, but I sure do miss comedies with fresh ideas and an off-the-scale laugh factor. Where have all the Tommy Boy's gone and will I ever see anything like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective again in my lifetime?
There is a surprisingly graphic decapitation of a Korean woman during an ice skating accident shown through a VHS recording on a TV.
Farrell and Heder shirtless and Jenna Fischer in lingerie. Yawn.
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