By Bethany Hutchens
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Sunday, April 29, 2007, The OG, arts

DANCING ON ICE? Men in sparkly leotards? Figure skating just calls out for a Will Ferrell spoof, and that's just what it gets in “Blades of Glory.”

The story follows Chazz Michael Michaels (Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder), two rival skaters who couldn't be more different.

Michaels is a drugged-up party boy (and confessed sex addict) who learned to skate in the underground sewer-skating world of Detroit, and MacElroy is a sensitive orphan who was adopted and trained from a very young age by the billionaire Darren MacElroy (William Fichtner).

The two skaters are banned for life from skating for fighting during the 2002 Winter Games. But they find a loophole that allows them to skate again, as long as they compete together in the pairs skating competition.

The costumes are what make the movie, especially those of the couples pair Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenburg (Will Arnett and Amy Poehler), who wear hip hop-inspired costumes complete with Converse skates and missing teeth for one routine.

Jimmy's costumes are also hilarious. In his 2002 Winter Games routine he wears a peacock costume with his hand as the head of the peacock.

The entire figure-skating world is spoofed amazingly well, from the commentators to the skaters themselves. (Chazz Michael Michaels' character is based off the skater Elvis Stojko, and Jimmy's character is based off Johnny Weir.)

The “World Figure Skating Championship” looks exactly like the Winter Olympics, and several real-life figure skating stars make cameos in the film, including Sasha Cohen and Nancy Kerrigan.

The cast is made up of comedic all-stars from Heder of “Napoleon Dynamite” fame to Jenna Fischer from the television show “The Office.” The comedians play off each other well, especially Ferrell/Heder and Arnett/Poehler.

Of course, being a comedy starring Will Ferrell, “Blades of Glory” abounds in corny jokes and crude humor (two male figure skaters in a pairs competition sets up a lot of homosexual jokes).

Since its release on March 30, the film has attracted plenty of viewers, grossing more than $100 million. Should you join that crowd?

People who like crude humor, Will Ferrell, or figure skating will undoubtedly enjoy “Blades of Glory.” I know I did.

“Blades of Glory” is playing at the Beverly 18 and Savoy 16. For showtimes at both theaters, click here. Runtime: 93 minutes. Rated: PG-13.

"Blades of Glory" at a glance

“BLADES OF GLORY”

• Directed by: Josh Gordon, Will Speck
• Starring: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler
• Rated: PG-13
• Released: March 30, 2007
• Runtime: 93 minutes
• Playing in C-U: Beverly 18, Savoy 16
• Summary: Will Ferrell does to figure skating what he did to TV news and NASCAR.

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— External link: The film's official site