The Cutting Edge (DVD, 2001, Contemporary Classics)

Spoiled but accomplished figure skater Kate Moseley is on her way to the Olympics, and so is egotistical hockey player Doug Dorsey. When an eye injury puts Doug out for the rest of the season, he reluctantly agrees to try working as Kate's partner, which allows him to stay in competition. The duo gets off to a rough start but learns to perform as a team, and they soon become a force to be reckoned with. The first in the 4-movie series.

D.B. Sweeney, Moira Kelly, Roy Dotrice

ALSO SEE:
The Cutting Edge - Chasing the Dream
The Cutting Edge - Going for the Gold
The Cutting Edge - Fire and Ice

This is a rich story about the character profile of Doug and Kate.
At first glance, Kate is refined, and Doug is rough. By the second glance, Kate is a perfectionist, and Doug is persistent.

It is these traits of two opposite characters that move the viewer to watch the emotional dance between them.

She feels that no one has the same devotion to the ice. He feels that keeping focused on winning is the only priority of living. they both practice in becoming a PAIR of figure skaters during each competition. As they perform their dazzling spins on ice, he adapts to her drive for perfection as she adopts his real focus to win. The dialogue that focuses these motivations is filled with barbs and dares which bounce off them as sparks from metal hitting rock.

The viewer is invited into this interesting battle of power between wills which offers clues about a future romance.

Because Doug and Kate do also have time apart, the flow of communication is not a constant. Hence, misunderstandings develop from incomplete comments and partial glimpses of one another's behavior. Within this chaos of misinformation, each is required to examine the motivation for the competition as well as to grasp the feelings about the partner.

Over the time-out from practice during the Christmas & New Year holidays, each skater confronts the heartfelt affection for the other. The viewer follows with cautious breathing the interactions between the skaters as they resume their competition to qualify for the Olympics.

Will these two tough competitors ever confess their fondness for each other and to one another? The tension moves toward a critical phase of the competion in which a true partnership is required to attain a perfect score. In their own way, each skater knows deep inside that only thru a bond of total union where they skate as one can they both achieve self-realization and personal satisfaction.

By watching the story to its conclusion, the viewer sees the magnificent answer to this challenge.

Jo Jo

D.B. Sweeney is a washed out hockey player~
MOIRA Kelly is the spoiled and "witch" little skater who NO ONE WANTS TO SKATE WITH. her Russian coach has the brilliant idea of putting the rough around the edges Hockey Skater with the Prima Donna Skater~ TOGETHER AS A ICE SKAING "PAIR~OH BUT THEY HATE EACH OTHER~

the fun is watching them "blend" like oil and water~
BEST line in the movie is "toe pick" the endless fun watching Sweeney attempting to use Figure Skating Skates~ (HOCKEY SKATES AND FIGURES SKATES ARE ALOT DIFFERENT~)finally~ the pair find some middle ground and end up very good but the Secret to Success is super secret move the Russian Coach has in mind~ as they argue their ALL the way to the Olympics~ this is a chick Flick but WE like it any way~ THIS IS THE BEST OF THE "Cutting Edge" moves.....MOVIES THE 2 SEQUILS DO NOT COMPARE~

I GIVE IT A 9 OUT OF 10 FOR FUN~ AND THEY CAN SKATE~

IF YOU FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE~

Why'd I buy it? That's easy! For a feel-good film that's also part romance and has enough comedy to keep it light and bubbly, this is your movie! It's campy to be sure, but the skating sequences are terrific, the acting isn't half bad, the script is pretty tight and Paul Michael Glaser turned out to be pretty good director to boot. Get the new Gold Medal edition for the best print, but even the 2000 or 2001 editions are pretty decent transfers.

Don't sweat the date of the original release, it holds up pretty well. What you're going to enjoy is a timeless, simple story that's also a lot of fun.

This is such a good movie all around. You have two great actors, D.B. Sweeney and Moira Kelly. They both have the same passion and that is being on the ice. Sweeney's character is injured during a Hockey match and has to hang up his skates, or so he thought until he was introduced into the world of pairs figure skating. This has some great skating scenes, plus hints of romance through out the movie. Very funny watching the reaction of Sweeney's character trying to adapt to his new job. This is a great family movie and it's not just a "Chick Flick". I know a lot of men that enjoyed this movie also. Two thumbs way up!