The Cutting Edge (1992)

I have lost count of the number of times I have seen this. It is extraordinary in every way, and that is IN SPITE OF the fact that it appears to have been done as a B-movie on a limited budget and with limited expectations. First the story. A bratty young girl raised by her domineering father to win a medal in skating. Nothing new there. But add to the mix the idea that she needs a last-minute partner because she has burned through all the ready talent, and the best candidate appears to be an ex-hockey skater who can no longer play .. and now it starts to get interesting. Then factor in some of the best on-screen chemistry in recent memory ... and presto, before you can say JACK ROBINSON, we are suddenly in the big leagues in spite of the small budget. One of the tightest scripts ever, with a double climax at the end. (To this day, every skating teacher and skating student will break out laughing when you say "toepick" with that certain special intonation.) Moira Kelly and D.B. Sweeny give the performances of their lives yet, ASTONISHINGLY, don't even seem to realize it. (They were young and probably thought that bigger and better parts were ahead of them -- but history will show that, unfortunately, did not happen). Succeeds on so many levels -- as a sports story, as story of personal redemption, and absolutely kills as a love story. More recently the Disney people, realizing that they had overlooked this gem, tried to monetize it with some belated sequels, but lightening seldom strikes twice. A one of a kind guilty pleasure, iconic, capable of being watched over and over, a film that never gets old, and never fails to capture the imagination or steal your heart. A perfect "10." ------------------------------------------------------------Update Oct 14: The good news is that Disney has grudgingly acknowledged just how good this film is by creating a franchise. Of sorts. The bad news is that, while entry #2 and #3 are OK (but still a pale imitation of the original), #4 is barely watchable at all. Out of curiosity this writer found a copy of the original and re-watched. No, all those who gave this a perfect "10" were not crazy. On re-watching, the tightness of the script, with many clever double-entendres, shines; as does Kelly's ability to deliver some of the best reaction shots in the history of the medium. Chemistry to spare.

It's the 1988 Winter Olympics at Calgary. Doug Dorsey (D.B. Sweeney) is a promising hockey player, but his career is cut short by an eye injury. Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly) is a spoiled temperamental pairs figure skater who goes through every partner. Then 2 years later, Moseley still can't find a partner, and Dorsey can't find a team. Her coach Anton Pamchenko decides to put them together despite their combative relationship.They have good chemistry together. Their combative nature is the perfect heat for a relationship. It is a fundamental building block to a good rom-com. That's what we have here. Two perfectly match solid actors doing a good rom-com. Moira Kelly has the perfect indignant pout, and Sweeney has a great sly smirk.

Back in 1992,it was the Olympic year and The Cutting Edge was released.It romantic comedy film.The plot is about a very rich, spoiled figure skater Kate Mosley,played by Moira Kelly,who is paired with a has-been ice hockey player,Doug Dorsey,played by D. B. Sweeney for Olympic figure skating. They face off against a Soviet pair in the climax of the film, which is set at the site of the 16th Winter Olympic Games, in Albertville, France.Kate Mosley is a world-class figure skater training for the 1988 Winter Olympics. She has genuine talent, but years of being spoiled by her wealthy father have made her all but impossible to work with. Doug Dorsey is an exceptional hockey player with drive, skill, and a full complement of arrogance. His team is also in the Olympics. Doug suffers an eye injury during that game which damages his peripheral vision, and he is forced to retire from the sport. In the lead-up to the next Winter Olympics four years later, Kate has driven out all potential skating partners with her attitude and perfectionism; her coach, Anton Pamchenko, needs to find another replacement. He proceeds to track down Doug, who by now is back home in Minnesota, working in a steel mill and playing in a semi- professional hockey league on the side. Desperate for another chance at Olympic glory, Doug agrees to work as Kate's partner, even though he has a macho contempt for figure skating. However, Kate's snooty, prima donna behavior gets on his nerves immediately. The first few practices between them do not go well. In time, though, their relationship grows warmer, and they learn to work together and become a pair to be reckoned with both on and off the ice.They advance all the way to the finals in Albertville and look to be one of the top pairs competing for the gold.Everything is going well until they realize that they have fallen in love with each other. Doug and Kate are forced to reconcile these new feelings with their mutual desire to win at all costs.Although a lot of the thematic formulas were applied in this film from other movies like sports underdog,unlikely romance from two people from different backgrounds,the United States-Soviet Union rivalry and many more,Cutting Edge works as it was entertaining from beginning to end.Credit that to the brilliant screenplay from Tony Gilroy.Despite of applying many clichés that have been used in many romantic comedies,the story was presented in a way that the viewer will find it both original,refreshing and surprisingly addictive. Added to that,there great chemistry between Kelly and Sweeney that the viewer will definitely be engaged in their characters.Aside from that,their performance made it heartwarming due to their honest portrayal.Both made the film engaging and surprisingly addictive.And of course,the one could never forget the 90's soundtrack in the movie led by Joe Cocker's Feel Like Forever.Overall,I consider this one of the best romantic comedy/sports movie ever released.

I echo the warm sentiments expressed by many here at IMDb -- this is classic 40's type romance, filmed mostly in my hometown, Hamilton, Ontario, with pleasant skating choreography, and a rousing, pounding Soundtrack, including some great 'straight-up' Blues tunes. And, if you haven't seen it in awhile, there may be more great one-liners than you recall! D. B. Sweeney (awesome as 'Shoeless Joe' in '8 Men Out') plays Douglas Dorsey, an ex-hockey player recruited to pair up with spoiled, but talented brat, Kate (the charming Moira Kelly) in 'pairs' skating. She couldn't cut it with any of her previous 'traditional' partners - why should she succeed with this 'Neanderthal'? Well, if she wants to win gold, she will have to find a way - rich daddy has run out of options. He has the best (Russian) coach Pamchenko (played by ageless Roy Dotrice, now 85 years young! - recall him as Mozart's overbearing father in 'Amadeus'), but Dad's dream of a Gold medal requires a working partner for his mercurial daughter.Meantime, we are treated to some memorable stuff: Dorsey (to Kate's financé): "If I was you, I'd invest in blindfolds" (response to "I don't like to see Kate hurt") "When I played hockey, I had 2 helmets - one for the game, and one for just before the game" (explaining his penchant for vomiting before tense competition). Pamchenko to Dorsey, who threatens to walk out early in his audition: "And 'Gretzky' - I am the last person who is going to come looking for you" (a lesson for anyone who won't accept that their last chance has arrived).8/10