The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream (2008)

Admirable film.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

This TV movie would not be as good as it is, if Matt Lanter was not in it. He looks really pretty throughout the movie.Several stock scenes of Seattle were repeated in this movie. It was not necessary.During their "Paris" competition, it is obvious that the arena is the same as they used for the US national competition. And it looks totally unreal, because there was no advertisement around the skating area. And the signs were all in English.Matt was wearing all those skin tight hot looking, colorful lycra t-shirts which made him incredibly hot. Male figure skaters always wear those skin tight, fancy looking pants and tops when they compete. Why did the costume people give him those boring long sleeves shirt and regular pants to wear when he was competing? Unlike the "Cutting Edge 2" movie, the body doubles' faces were not very visible which is good.The story is almost predicable. Of course, this is expected for most of the inspirational movies.

OK, not sure why I felt compelled to comment on this movie, but having now sat through both the original (pretty good), the 2nd one (awful), and this one (much better), I have a good basis of comparison.This was not high art, but it was a FAR better movie than the 2nd one. the key here being a pair of relatively unknown actors in the leads who did a nice job and had real chemistry (especially the female lead who was full of bounce and sass without being obnoxious). The leads in the second one were so horribly awkward it was like pulling teeth, but here you have likable and sympathetic characters. And the script lets them be likable too -- another thing that the 2nd movie got horribly wrong.Unfortunately parts of the script are also the biggest weaknesses with this movie. There a handful of awkward scenes, and down the back half of the movie it was as if they hired some hack to try to artificially find some way to plagiarize as much of the original movie as possible and force it into this one, even when the pacing and fit was off.But any romance is basically about the romantic leads. If they succeed and work well together, then the romance works. If they don't, it doesn't. Well, in this one they did. And so, not a classic, but eminently watchable for this sort of thing.

I loved this movie, however, I am forced to recognize other people's comments as valid. And just a historical fact the Winter Olympics are only held every for years. The end of the movie they win the Gold. This was supposed to be them at the Olympics right? And someone mentioned the line delivered by Christy Carlson Ramono about it being 5 years since seeing each other at the last Olympics and they still had like 5 weeks before qualifying point is time-lines for all three movies are off. From The Cutting Edge to Going For The Gold, she was an adult in the movie yet like another person mentioned it would have been impossible for her to be but 13-14 years old mathematically. And the transition to the 3rd movie is mentioned as 5 years, but the banner says 2006, which means it had to be 2 years. IF you can overlook the time-line, I think all 3 movies have their upsides and their drops. It's a toss-up for me whether the original or the third is better. I think the third is more appealing to the younger crowd, but the first one will definitely be the classic.

i thought this movie was the weakest of the three movies,mainly because there's zero tension between the two main characters,and the story isn't really there.that's just my opinion,of course.there also isn't really any excitement,even in the skating sequences.i never really felt invested in the story or the characters.having said all that,i did find the movie passably entertaining,and i never felt bored.Christy Romano(Jackie Dorsey) has a very small role in the film,which is unfortunate.to me,this film had a TV movie feel to it,which isn't always a bad thing.i just expected more from this movie.it's not horrible,by any means,,but for me,it's about average.i give The Cutting Edge 3:Chasing the Dream a 5/10