The Cutting Edge (1992)

Excellent adaptation.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Blistering performances.

The Cutting EdgeWhen Calgary was awarded the 1988 Winter Olympics, the first thing that Americans did was purchase an atlas.Surprisingly, the US athletes in this romantic-comedy were able to find Canada. Colliding on their way to their gold medal competitions, blue-collar hockey player Doug (D. B. Sweeney) and uptight figure skater Kate (Moira Kelly) start off on the wrong skate.But things get worse when their failures in '88 force them to work together for pairs figure skating success in '92. With clashing styles and personalities, Doug and Kate's disdain on ice quickly turns to passion off it. But at what cost to the performance?Wrought with early-nineties fashion faux pas and blurry slow-motion skating sequences, this opposite attractions opus is painfully predictable but oddly endearing – enough to spawn three lesser-known sequels.Incidentally, the offspring of a hockey player and a figure skater will likely grow up to drive a Zamboni.Yellow Lightvidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

This was really trite. Everyone acted like adolescent teenagers. There was a denouement in the middle where Kate points out that she has been acting absurd which is great because I would've strangled her myself at that point otherwise. Everything was extremely improbable and they were extremely un-self-aware. The awkward shyness alone was so difficult to watch. Had they been more intelligent they would have gotten to grips with it two months in. There were some great lines of dialogue that saved the movie ("You can come to the office and help with commodities arbitrage." (later) "Do you care about her? I don't like to see her upset." "Well I suggest you invest in blindfolds.") Moira Kelly was luminous and beautiful. She was like the second coming of Audrey Hepburn in this movie. At the end: DID THEY WIN THE MEDAL OR NOT? did she throw over her fiancé FOR NOTHING? or does it not matter because it's LOVE? (worst timing of love declaration ever)? the whole thing just got pushed OVER THE TOP with the ending first kiss.

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-

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