Two comedic heavy hitters, Will Ferrell (ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY) and Jon Heder (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE), join forces to push the boundaries of slapstick with their ice-skating farce, BLADES OF GLORY. Rival skaters Chazz Michael Michaels (Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Heder) begrudgingly set out to attempt a historical comeback in the pair-skating program after being banned in the men's figure skating category after an unsportsmanlike scuffle. MacElroy's former coach (Craig T. Nelson) provides them with the tough-love coaching they so desperately need. Despite their absurdity, the duo aren't previous award winners for nothing, and their combined talent threatens the position of fellow American skating champions--brother and sister pair-skating team Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg, who are played by real-life husband and wife Will Arnett (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT) and Amy Poehler (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE). But while Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg may turn on the charm for their adoring public, they reveal their true colors as they connive to sabotage Michaels and MacElroy in their efforts to regain the championship.
Ferrell's turn as the loud-talking, ego-swelling, hard-partying sex-addict skater is an abrasive and shrilling contrast to Heder's innocent, cherub-faced prodigal son. Poehler and Arnett are splendid as the biting antagonists, and demonstrate a masterful understanding of how to portray characters full of spite and self-indulgence. BLADES OF GLORY is full of gut-busting wisecracks and painfully funny imagery, and will undoubtedly leave fans hoping that Ferrell and Heder will team up again for more hilarity and outlandish entertainment.
Theatrical Release: March 30, 2007
Blu-ray Disc Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English
English Subtitled, French Dubbed & Subtitled, Spanish Dubbed & Subtitled
Stars
Will Ferrell: Actor, ELF/MELINDA AND MELINDA
Jon Heder: Actor, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (2004)
Amy Poehler: Actress
Will Arnett: Actor
Jenna Fischer: American actress
Craig T. Nelson: American Actor
William Fichtner: Actor
Romany Malco: Actor, THE CHATEAU (2001)
Nick Swardson: Screenwriter, MALIBU'S MOST WANTED (2003)
Rob Corddry: Comedian, THE DAILY SHOW
Director
Will Speck: Director, BLADES OF GLORY (2007)
Josh Gordon: Director, BLADES OF GLORY (2007)
Producer
Stuart Cornfeld: Producer
Ben Stiller: American director/actor, MEET THE PARENTS (2000)
John L. Jacobs: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Screenwriter
Craig Cox: Screenwriter, BLADES OF GLORY (2007)
Jeff Cox: Screenwriter, BLADES OF GLORY (2007)
John Altschuler: Screenwriter, BLADES OF GLORY (2007)
David Krinsky: Screenwriter, BLADES OF GLORY (2007)
Composer
Theodore Shapiro: Composer, YOU, ME AND DUPREE (2006)
Editor
Richard Pearson: Editor, UNITED 93 (2006)
Executive Producer
Marty P. Ewing: Producer, PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO
Director of Photography
Stefan Czapsky:
Review 1:
"[Arnett] gives his evil skating dandy a touch of antic depravity....BLADES OF GLORY has funny moves..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.54-55 04/06/2007
Review 2:
"Paired with Jon Heder as the first male-male figure skating team, Will Ferrell cuts a funny figure..."
Source: Box Office
p.90 06/01/2007
Review 3:
"[A]n enjoyably silly send-up of the preening Lycra-clad antics of the ice-skating world."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.48 06/01/2007
Review 4:
4 stars out of 5 -- "The skating sequences are hilarious, and the two leads play off each other beautifully....This is a gem of a comedy that you'll want to watch over and over."
Source: Ultimate DVD
p.94 08/01/2007
Review 5:
"Mr. Ferrell and Mr. Heder strike an early claim to being the comedy couple of the year..."
Source: New York Times
p.E12 03/30/3007