I have a secret. I like stupid movies. I like movies where you don't have to think to much. Don't get me wrong, I like movies where you have to think too, but every once in a while, I like me some mindless comedy.
Blades of Glory (BoG from now on) is the latest of a line of movies, more often than not starring Will Ferrell, that take well-known concepts like the buddy movie and the underdog sports movie, and presents it in a completely silly way. Oh, they also have a dollop of celebrity cameos as well.
BoG is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining movie--as long as you don't think two much. If you go in expecting Hamlet, A) there is something wrong with you, abd B) you will be disappointed. If you go expecting a silly comedy, you be very happy.
The acting is first rate all around. Farrell is an old pro at these kinds of movies, and Jon Heder is quickly becoming one. Will Arnett and Amy Poehler provide excellent support, and Jenna Fischer is cute, sexy, charming, sweet and funny all at the same time. I have got to watch the Office more often.
I laughed out loud several times during the movie--a line here or there, during the Arnett/Farrell chase scene. And I gotta say, the scene with Heder in the bathroom is cringe inducing humor at its best.
So, I liked the movie. It's not heavy or Oscar worthy, but fun.
Now, the trailers:
- Ocean's 13: I realized that there are a lot of sequels coming out this year. 4 of the 6 trailers were for sequels. This one seems to be more in line with the first one instead of the "let's film our vacation" second one.
- Spider-Man 3: I can wait to see this. I am going to put myself into a chemically induced coma to awaken on May 4 so it seems like no time passed between now and then. The trailer is that good.
- Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End: This trailer was exciting: a lot of humor, great action, and good CGI. Only problem: So was the trailer for the last movie. But there were a whole lot of long, drawn out boring parts between the exciting scenes featured in that trailer. How can I allow my heart to trust again?
- I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry: Jessica Biel appears in this movie wearing only her underwear. I repeat. Jessica. Biel. Appears. In. This. Movie. Wearing. Only. Her. Underwear. That might make it almost worth seeing, if the story doesn't get too homophobic.
- Shrek 3: The previous installments of three movies on this list, including Shrek 2, rank on the list of the highest grossing movies of all time. This year might be the highest grossing summer season ever.
- Disturbia: Hmm. James Stewart. Shia LaBeouf. Broken Leg. Ankle Bracelet. Seeing this movie in the theaters. Buying Rear Window. Hmm. Let me log on to Amazon.
I liked this movie a lot better when it was called The Cutting Edge. Mostly because Moira Kelly is about 20 times hotter than Jon Heder. Ferrell, as always, was funny, and I agree with you on Jenna Fischer.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as an authority on pirates in film, I have to take issue with your negative remarks about Pirates of the Caribbean.
You know, in an earlier version of this blog entry (I had to do it 3 times because my MSN kept cutting out on me), I compared it to The Cutting Edge. I agree that Moira Kelly was (and heck, probably still is) hot. But don't forget the roguish charm of one D.B. Sweeney.
ReplyDeleteAny specific issues you would like to take with my comments on PotC? (Don't misread this. It might sound like I'm "calling you out" but I am just looking for further discourse.)
I don't know that I'd say PotC:DMC drags for one. It's not 2 hours of balls-out action, no, but it's a swashbuckling film, and I don't know that I've ever seen one that's all action, all the time. I think it's quite good, really, and some of the parts that 'drag' build on a lot of beats established in the first movie.
ReplyDeleteIf I have a complaint about DMC, it's honestly Johnny Depp. I don't know that he knows from scene to scene what he wants to do with Sparrow. In the first movie, and his best scenes in the second, he's a bit 'touched' but still is a serious character, but there are scenes in Chest where he comes off as too much of a clown for my tastes. It doesn't bother me too badly, since hey, structurally speaking this is Elizabeth's story. I also think that a lot of the perceived pacing issues in the sequel are at the service of the damned trilogy structure that everything has these days. And I say '$@#& you, The Matrix' for that.
Perhaps drags is the wrong word, Now, mind you, this is my opinion from seeing the movie once in a theater on the weekend it came out. As I recall, I was okay with the pacing for the first 60-75% of the movie. Sure, it could have been tighter and I really didn't think the movie need such an epic scope, but I was able to live with it. But after that, my mind was prepared to have the movie end. And it seemed like the movie was gearing up to end. But then it didn't. Then it appeared that it was about to end. And then it didn't. And so on.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have a a theorum on the Johnny Depp performance in the second movie. I think this was Disney's way of playing up the character for the kids. Kids loved the silly Jack Sparrow, so they played up the sillyness in the sequel. I agree that he was a bit clownish at times, it didn't really bother me that much either.
Another thing that irked me was the introduction of the possible love triangle between Jack, Elizabeth and Will. I don't believe this was a major part of the first movie. I know it was introduced to add conflict, but why couldn't Will & Liz's romance just be a romance without it becoming a love triangle.
All this being said, I will probably see the third PotC movie, which is not something i could say about the Matrix. I have yet to see the third Matrix movie.
Maybe I've seen the extended edition of Return of the King enough times to not be fazed by multiple endings.
ReplyDeleteDead Man's Chest felt more like the end of Empire Strikes Back to me than it did RotK, though. The downer climax with the heroes regrouping in the epilogue. With Geoffrey Rush as the CGI Y-Wing going past the hospital ship's window.