Blades of Glory (2007)

In 2002, two rival Olympic ice skaters were stripped of their gold medals and permanently banned from men's single competition. Presently, however, they've found a loophole that will allow them to qualify as a pairs team.

Directors:

Josh Gordon, Will Speck

Writers:

Jeff Cox (screenplay), Craig Cox (screenplay)

Stars:

Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Amy Poehler

3 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Will Ferrell	...	Chazz Michael Michaels
Jon Heder	...	Jimmy MacElroy
Will Arnett	...	Stranz Van Waldenberg
Amy Poehler	...	Fairchild Van Waldenberg
Jenna Fischer	...	Katie Van Waldenberg
William Fichtner	...	Darren MacElroy
Craig T. Nelson	...	Coach
Romany Malco	...	Jesse
Nick Swardson	...	Hector
Scott Hamilton	...	Sports Anchor
Andy Richter	...	Mountie
Greg Lindsay	...	Mountie
Rob Corddry	...	Bryce
Nick Jameson	...	PA Announcer
Tom Virtue	...	Floor Manager

Storyline

When rivalry between the world's best men's figure skaters - sex addicted, improvisational Chazz Michael Michaels and germophobic, precise Jimmy MacElroy - breaks into a fight on the awards platform, they're banned from the event for life. Three years later, desire for a gold medal and a careful reading of the rules lead them to compete as skating's first male-male pair. Can they overcome mutual dislike, limited time to prepare, their coach's secret past, and the dirty tricks of their main opponents, the Van Waldenberg siblings? The key to victory or defeat may lie in the attraction of the virginal Jimmy toward Katie, the Van Waldenbergs' little sister.

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Plot Keywords:

nintendo game boy advance | jock strap | competition | fight | ice | 

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Taglines:

Kick Some Ice

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Genres:

Comedy | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, a comic violent image and some drug references

Details

Official Sites:

Dreamworks [United States] Official site [Spain]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

30 March 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Eisprinzen

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$61,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$33,014,202 (USA) (30 March 2007)

Gross:

$118,153,533 (USA) (6 July 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks SKG, Red Hour Films, Smart Entertainment

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jon Heder broke his ankle while training to ice-skate.

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Goofs

When Chazz Michael Michaels pulls himself out of the frozen waterway after falling in at the end of the chase scene with Stranz, his hair is wet but his coat and gloves are clearly quite dry.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Darren MacElroy: [watching a young Jimmy skate at an orphanage] I'll take him.

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Crazy Credits

During closing credits, Hector plays with Jimmy, Chazz, and Hector action figures.

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Connections

References Star Trek (1966)

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Soundtracks

Con te partirò
Written by Francesco Sartori & Lucio Quarantotto
Performed by 'Andrea Bocelli' with Sarah Brightman
Courtesy of Unviersal Music B.V. (NL)
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Fantastically Overblown

Blades of Glory is the story of Chazz Michael Michaels (Ferrel) and Jimmy MacElroy (Heder), two rival ice skaters banned from competition after a podium brawl at an "Olympic" event. After Jimmy's stalker finds a loophole in the rulebook (yes, you read that right), the pair join forces to reclaim their rightful position at the top of the skating rankings.

While it follows the predictable rise, fall, and rise again pattern of most comedies, Blades of Glory is different enough to be memorable. The costumes are ridiculous, the set-pieces are brilliant (including a very awkward chase sequence involving a crossbow and an unfortunate mascot), and the performances, what these films hinge on, are excellent.

The Ferrel-Heder exchanges are drenched with homoeroticism, and their struggles to come to terms with each other's lifestyles (Ferrel: "I'm a sex addict. It's my cross to bear" and Heder: "If you can dream it, you can do it!") are funny enough to carry the film for large sections. The supporting performances of the Waldenbergs (Will Arnett, Amy Poelher, and Jenna Fischer) fill in the gaps successfully, their conversations charged with an unusual mix of villainy and incestuous desire. Then of course there are the skating scenes, which are quite a sight to behold, in all their spandex-and-diamonds splendour.

Overall, Blades of Glory is hilarious. Pretty much every aspect of it is fantastically overblown, and it keeps you laughing quite steadily for its 90-minute running time. Boom!