Figure skater Kate and hockey player Doug team up for a pairs skating competition; sparks fly as their icy personalities clash, but they eventually thaw out and become a winning combination on the ice.
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Review
Why “The Cutting Edge” Is More Than a Romantic Comedy
Have you ever watched a movie that you enjoyed but also recognized it had flaws? That’s how I feel about “The Cutting Edge” (1992), a romantic comedy about a figure skater and a hockey player who become pairs partners and eventually fall in love. While it has its share of clichés, contrivances, and predictable moments, the film also has some surprising strengths that elevate it above many similar movies. In this article, I will examine why “The Cutting Edge” deserves more attention than it usually receives, using my behavioral insights to explore its story, characters, production, and reception.
First, let’s summarize the plot of the movie. Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly) is a talented but temperamental figure skater who has just lost her partner to injury before the Olympics. Doug Dorsey (D.B. Sweeney) is a rugged but sensitive hockey player who has just retired from his sport due to an eye injury. They meet when Kate’s coach Anton Pamchenko (Roy Dotrice) suggests that Doug try out as her new partner, despite their initial mutual hostility. After some training and bickering, they improve their technique and chemistry on the ice while developing feelings off the ice. However, their personal issues – Kate’s fear of failure and abandonment, Doug’s insecurity about his future – threaten to derail their chances of winning the gold medal at the World Championships in France.
On a surface level, “The Cutting Edge” seems like a typical sports romance with familiar tropes such as opposites attract, enemies-to-lovers, and underdogs striving for glory against all odds. The dialogue can be cheesy at times (“Toe pick!”), the soundtrack is heavy on ’80s power ballads and jazz standards (“Moonglow” is reprised multiple times), and some scenes are formulaic (such as the training montage or the last-minute rescue). However, what sets “The Cutting Edge” apart from many other films in this genre is how it subverts some of these tropes and adds complexity to its characters and themes.
For example, instead of making Kate and Doug polar opposites in every way (she’s elegant, he’s rough; she’s cerebral, he’s physical), the movie actually shows them sharing some similarities and vulnerabilities. Kate may be a perfectionist who demands excellence from herself and others, but she also has a deep fear of being alone, which manifests in her clingy behavior towards Anton and her prickly attitude towards Doug. Doug may be a jock who speaks in hockey slang and resents figure skating at first, but he also has an artistic side that he expresses through ice dancing and a tender heart that he reveals through his interactions with Kate. By giving both protagonists some flaws and emotions that go beyond their stereotypes, “The Cutting Edge” makes them more relatable and interesting than they would be otherwise.
Moreover, the film also challenges some gender norms and expectations that are common in both sports culture and romantic comedy. For instance, when Doug first tries to skate with Kate, he struggles to adapt to the graceful moves and rhythm required for pairs skating while she dominates him intellectually and emotionally. However, instead of mocking him as a macho idiot or insisting on her superiority as a woman in a feminine sport, Kate acknowledges his potential as a partner who can bring strength, speed, and agility to their routine. She even teaches him some figure skating tricks that he applies to his hockey skills later on. This reversal of roles not only shows how gender can be fluid and complementary rather than fixed or competitive but also underscores the importance of collaboration in achieving excellence.
Furthermore, while “The Cutting Edge” depicts romance as an important part of Kate’s and Doug’s lives, it doesn’t reduce their identities to their romantic status or goals. Kate is still a skilled athlete who cares about her sport and her reputation as a champion. Doug is still a natural leader who seeks purpose and fulfillment beyond hockey or figure skating. Their love story may influence their decisions and motivations, but it doesn’t define them completely. This nuance is refreshing in a genre that often depicts women as passive objects of desire or men as conquest-driven heroes.
Additionally, the film showcases some impressive technical aspects that contribute to its effectiveness and appeal as a sports movie. The skating scenes, choreographed by Olympic medalist Sarah Kawahara, are both graceful and dynamic, showcasing the skill of the actors and the beauty of the sport. The camera work, by Elliot Davis, captures the fluidity and intimacy of ice dancing without resorting to dizzying cuts or shaky shots. The editing, by Michael Ruscio and Eric Sears, alternates between slow-motion close-ups and fast-paced wide shots to create tension and build excitement during competitions. Even the costumes and makeup, designed by Colleen Atwood and Michelle Vittone respectively, add color and texture to the characters’ personalities without distracting from their performances.
Moreover, “The Cutting Edge” has gained a loyal following over the years since its release despite its lukewarm reception by critics and moderate box office success. Many fans appreciate it for its combination of humor, romance, drama, and sportsmanship that makes it suitable for multiple ages and backgrounds. Some have even created fan fiction or fan art inspired by their love for Kate’s and Doug’s story or by their admiration for Moira Kelly’s acting or D.B. Sweeney’s charm (he reportedly trained in figure skating for several months before filming). Others have celebrated how the movie highlights important issues such as mental health (Kate struggles with anxiety) or social class (Doug comes from a working-class family while Kate is wealthy).
In conclusion, “The Cutting Edge” may not be a perfect movie, but it’s one that deserves more recognition and respect than it often receives. By challenging some stereotypes and conventions of its genre, it provides a more nuanced and complex perspective on sports, romance, gender, and identity. By showcasing some impressive technical aspects of filmmaking, it enriches the experience of watching figure skating on screen. By attracting a passionate fan base, it proves that its appeal goes beyond its initial critical or commercial reception. Whether you’re a fan or a skeptic of romantic comedies or sports movies, “The Cutting Edge” is worth watching and appreciating for what it accomplishes with its story and characters. As Kate would say: “Toe pick!”
Technical Data
- Release : 1992-03-27
- Runtime : 101
- Genre : Romance, Comedy, Drama
- Cast : D.B. Sweeney as Doug Dorsey, Moira Kelly as Kate Moseley, Roy Dotrice as Anton Pamchenko, Terry O’Quinn as Jack Moseley, Dwier Brown as Hale Forrest
- Crew : Marci Liroff as Casting, David Gropman as Production Design, Elliot Davis as Director of Photography, Ted Field as Producer, Paul Michael Glaser as Director
- Revenue : $25,105,517
- Budget : 0
- Company : Interscope Communications, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Popularity : 9.038
- Summary : Two former Olympians, one a figure skater and the other a hockey player, pin their hopes of one last shot at Olympic glory on one another. That is, of course, if they can keep from killing each other in the process…
- Tagline : The ultimate love/skate relationship.
