Blades of Glory [HD DVD]

When arch rivals Chazz Michael Michaels (Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) get themselves thrown out of the ice skating competitive arena, they wind up with really sucky jobs that they totally hate, until one day, a helpful stalker points out a technicality that may allow them to get back in the game.

This does not go over well with the current champions Fairchild and Stranz van Waldenberg (Amy Poehler and Will Arnett) who decide not to leave things to luck, skill and chance alone. The two plot and scheme and force their sweet sister Katie (not Holmes but Jenna Fischer) to drive a wedge (as opposed to a wedgie) between the new dynamic duo.

I was putting off watching this one because quite frankly, the thought of Will Ferrell, man in tights, scared the living daylights out of me, but it's actually quite funny in a morbidly fascinating kind of way, albeit extremely predictable.

(To that song from Robin Hood: Men in Tights)

They're men, they're men in tights
They skate around in circles under the lights
They're men, they're men in tights
They jump in the air, do triple toe loops, that's right!
They may look like wusses, but see what they do and then watch for their catfights!
They're men, they're men in tights
Always performing under arena lights

[Dance number, men's singles style]

They're men, MANLY men, they're men in tights. Yeah!
They're out making a living after they fight
They're men, they're men in tights
They swallow their pride and form a new team, that's right!
They still look like pansies, but don't get me wrong, they've got the gold in their sights
They're men, they're men in tights (TIGHT tights)
Trying the iron lotus under the lights

When you need a laugh just go see the men in tights
They're butch!

Amanda Richards

As the story opens, sexy, conceited Chaz (Will Farrell) and sweet, shy Jimmy (Jon Heder) have just tied for a gold medal in men's figure skating. They get into a brawl, however, and are both banned from ever participating in the sport again. A few years later, they learn of a technicality that would allow them to enter together as a couple in pairs' skating and, despite hating each other, they start practicing their routine for the next big competition, which includes a very dangerous move.

If you liked Farrell's movies in the past, you'll enjoy this one, as it's just more outrageous comedy full of junior high locker-room humor. It is likeable and amusing for the first thirty minutes; unfortunately it drags on for another hour and the gay and crotch jokes get old. That said, both Farrell and Heder are good in their roles; Amy Pohler also gives a good performance as a villainous skating queen. If you've seen the trailer for "Blades," you've seen it all - it's funny until it runs out of steam, then it's just predictable and tedious.

I know this one's got a bunch of bad reviews but I just can't help loving it. How can anyone not laugh at the "icy hot super slide" or the "Iron Lotus"?

Does it follow a Hollywood formula? Of course it does.

Is it predictable? Sure.

But I don't care, I'm too busy laughing.