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Life & Arts

‘Blades' wins gold with shallow humor

by CHRIS ELLIOTT
The Daily Cougar

Here's a list of awkward situations that would make any guy uneasy: some huge guy in a Speedo two sizes too small; passing gas in an elevator; a man wearing a Hello Kitty backpack with matching bracelets; and getting beat by a girl in a sport. 

Those circumstances are pretty weird, yet they don't seem to have the same effect as two grown men performing together on a pairs figure skating team.

Watching Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) gracefully and sensually glide across the ice as one unit in Blades of Glory is odd, but it's also hilarious. 

Michaels and MacElroy find themselves in compromising positions as they perform their routines for crowds. While qualifying for the world championship, there are three maneuvers that could make men squirm, all of which involve the groin area.

As expected, Blades of Glory is filled with more sexual innuendo than a 1990s LL Cool J album. There were many comedic options to choose from for producers Ben Stiller, John Jacobs and Stewart Cornfield. They chose to take Easy Street.

The movie also includes plenty of the slapstick comedy expected from Heder and Ferrell. These scenes mesh well with the onslaught of random outbursts and quirky supporting characters to shape a film that will have most viewers laughing and shaking their heads in disbelief.

There isn't much else to Blades, though, once you get past the sex jokes, awkward situations and spills taken on and off the ice. This one won't make you think; many of the jokes are a little obvious.

And the plot is predictable: two dudes fight, get banned from figure skating and live a couple miserable years below mediocrity before finding a loophole in the rules and returning to the "sport" they love. They overcome adversity, become best friends after winning the championship and fly away together like super heroes into the Canadian sunset.

At least Blades will make viewers laugh, even if it doesn't keep them guessing.

Blades of Glory 

Directed by: Will Speck and Josh Gordon
Staring: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Amy Poehler and Will Arnett 
Dreamworks Pictures

Verdict: It's so disturbing that it's funny.
 

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