The Cutting Edge (1992)

Wow! Such a good movie.

Very well executed

best movie i've ever seen.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Released in 1992, "The Cutting Edge" revolves around a sassy female figure skater who can't keep a partner, Kate (Moira Kelly), and a hockey player, Doug (D.B. Sweeney), who's injury forces him to consider being the girl's partner. They seek Olympic gold with the help of their coach (Roy Dotrice) and the backing of Kate's rich father (Terry O'Quinn). Rachelle Ottley is on hand as Kate's rival for Doug's attention.The plot is reminiscent of 1978's "Ice Castles" in regards to the romance between a figure skater and hockey player, but this is more of a formula sports flick. Moira Kelly is brassy in the manner of Carrie on The King of Queens (Leah Remini) whereas Sweeney comes across as a more likable Ben Affleck. People complain that they're so opposite that they couldn't possibly be a couple in real life, but there's a reason "opposites attract" is a saying. My wife and I, for instance, are total opposites, but have been happily married for over twenty years. Anyway, everything clicks for an amusing albeit predictable sports movie/drama/romance. The film runs 101 minutes and was shot mostly in the greater Toronto area, but also Lake Placid, NY (the hallway where the couple first collide, the ORDA Complex) and Pasadena, CA (the interior of the château in France).GRADE: B-

PlotThis is the story of a hockey player named Doug Dorsey (D.B. Sweeney) who can no longer play hockey and is forced to work in a factory. After hours he continues to train even though no professional franchise is willing to put him on their roster. Determine to play he enlists into the local bar league that is happy to have him. Then one day a coach happens onto him while he is working on an outside job. He introduces himself as Anton Pamchenko (Roy Dotrice). Doug mistakenly believes him to be a hockey coach. Anton explains that he is not a hockey coach and then hands him a pair of figure skates. And then the plot thickens. Doug is transported to a wealthy businessman's residence who among others things has his own ice ring. Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly) is along in the ring skating. After introductions Anton proclaims that they could become a figure skating couple and make it to the next winter Olympics and possible win a gold medal. After a few rocky starts they are soon on their way of making that a reality.Character DevelopmentIt is not often that the lead roles grow as individuals and change so dramatically. Doug is the basic fish out of water character, but Kate also needs to grow up and adapt and overcome her differences. There are role reversals and clever moments and regressions. Character and broken down and built up again and it really doesn't give much away to state that they is a happy finish.ActingWhat is truly wonderful about this film is that the all the lead roles and many of the minor ones do a stellar job in the acting department. Sweeny and Kelly have a ton of chemistry together and really move along the romantic wedge of the story forward. The writing plays well with their playful banter which is quite often. They try to outdo each other on and off the ice and become a better team because of it and grow closer together despite themselves.OverviewThis story is one of the better ones and even though they have tried to duplicate the magic in this film more than once they couldn't get the lightning to strike twice. But this fact doesn't go against the grain of logic because other remakes have gone just as poorly, the film 'Sabrina' (1995) with Harrison Ford would be one of those examples.

I just recently discovered this movie and I have watched it I do not know how many times and will keep watching it. Sweeney and Kelly did an excellent job and would love to see them in more movies but that never happens so I guess I will just have to be content with watching this one. I have never written a comment before on any movie but had to voice my opinion on this one. I have also watched the cutting edge 2 and 3. I loved 2 but wish it could have had Sweeney and Kelly.Number 3 was disappointing. It was too much like the first with just changes in the characters and I did not like the fact that Jackie did not have Alex. It ruined the second one in the fact that they were not together. Some times I think I get too wrapped up in the movies I like. ha ha. Thank you for your attention. Lou

OK, so the plot is formulaic. There is nothing new here, really. Or is there? I have seen this movie a few times, and always liked it. I think it's the acting and dialog.The acting is a cut above what you would expect from the movie. The female lead is a prima donna. I felt like her complex human emotions at times were fairly believable. Sometimes she's bitchy. Sometimes confused. Sometimes you like her.The male lead is perhaps not quite as good. But they did not fall into the pattern of simply making him another dumb jock. In a scene where they have both had too much to drink, I felt he reacted in a very realistic way. He delivers this great line in the movie to her after she insists he button the top button of his costume. Something to the effect of 'if buttoning that button made the difference between a long happy life and a painful death, he would not give her the satisfaction.' It was a perfectly acted scene, IMO.The dialog was much better than expected in this type of movie. There's some pretty funny lines. And some generally great exchanged between the actors that are far less dull than you would expect. If I put this into the category of sports movies, I would say it really rates well partly due to dialog.OK, so you can predict the plot. Obviously, it's a formulaic movie. But along the way, they throw in a few curves, and the characters react in many ways like normal humans would in the same situation, at least in my opinion.If you like the love/hate romance movies, and triumphant sporting movies, I think this is up your alley.p.s. chick flicks are not my favored genre, so the fact I liked this movie, says something I think (because it's a bit of a chick flick at times.)