Blades of Glory

The story is based around Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrel) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) two rival figure skaters who have to team up and skate as a pair after being banned from men's skating for life following a bit of a scuffle at an awards ceremony. This doesn't go down well, largely due to the fact that Chazz and Jimmy are like chalk and cheese and are sworn enemies. Chazz is the ladies man, a clinically diagnosed sex-addict who cannot walk without a swagger and improvises much of his skating routines. Jimmy on the other hand is a prissy orphan who plays by the rules and could not be any more girly if he tried. Teaming up these two and putting them in spandex lycra costumes makes for comical viewing.

The film has a lot of homoerotic insinuations with men twirling around the ice doing graceful lifts and pirouettes and gay remarks from other skaters about two men skating together. Nevertheless the film goes on to show that there is nothing homosexual between this pair and friendship eventually blossoms between them albeit with a few arguments on the way. The funniest of which is when Jimmy wrongly thinks that Chazz has slept with Katie, Jimmy's dream girl.

Entertainment also comes in the form of the brother and sister duo who challenge Chazz and Jimmy for the gold medal. Their plot to stop the male pair defeating them leads to all sorts of chaos including an incident involving handcuffs and toilet roll. However all ends well with Chazz getting a tattoo in honour of Jimmy and the twosome flying off together into the sunset.

This film not only has great comedy actors in the form of Will Ferrel and Jon Heder but the inventive and often rather ridiculous ice skating routines make for great viewing. Basically if you want something funny and light hearted filled with gags, then this is the film to provide it so long as you don't take it too seriously. Blades of Glory is a definite must see!

Megan Dixon