Think of it as "Cutting Edge" (or even the lesser "Cutting Edge 2"), minus the edge. Enter Jimmy, spoiled orphan-taken-in-by-the-billionaire to become a skating sensation, who just can't get along with rival Chazz. After they fight during a tie score, dual gold-medal session leaves the two fighting, setting a mascot on fire, and they're banned from skating for life.
Skip three years-plus ahead in time. (This is one of those times where I found a secondary character to be more entertaining than the leads.) Hector is Jimmy's stalker, but regrets he's stalking a has-been, and points out a loophole in skating association rules that would allow Jimmy to skate again in a doubles competition. Y'know, something that three years of lawyers failed to find.
There was laughing in the theatre, so don't get me wrong, it was perceived as funny by some. I wasn't one of the laughing folks, though. It was the couple to my right, but they laughed through the entire thing (yes, even the prolonged vomiting bit). Oh, and the 12-year-olds in front of me. For those who have drivers' licenses, and don't spent part of the movie on the phone with the babysitter, laughter was at a premium.
Will Ferrell is a funny guy, but as Chazz he doesn't really break any new ground. He can only do so much with the script he's given, and a quick read of the writer's credits on IMDB will show two guys haven't written anything (produced) before, two others are a periodic writer of 'King of the Hill,' and... yeah, nothing of note.
Maybe saved by the director? Nope, again, a resume that's nothing that rings a bell as having heard of. But it is an MTV Films production, of course; they brought us Freedom Writers, and Jackass Two. Win some, lose some on that point as well.
"Talladega Nights," funny at least for the first half; ditto on "Ron Burgundy." Ferrell seems in his own element in comedies, though his out-of-the-norm "Stranger Than Fiction," was a delight. Jon Heder is still working out his niche, I think, after the sleeper hit "Napoleon Dynamite" and swinging both sides of the silly comedy ("The Benchwarmers") to the romantic comedy scene ("Just Like Heaven"), he's got a range of options. In both cases, these guys seemed drawn to a quick turn-out comedy script, instead of waiting for something with a bit more substance.
If you're a fan of either guy, try to limit your out-of-pocket to matinee prices. Otherwise you may find yourself with an empty feeling after the 93 minutes, and it's not just the emptiness in your wallet.
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