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Tony Gilroy has made a name for himself as the writer (and sometimes director) of explosive action films—like .nightsandweekends.com/articles/10/NW1000177.php>Armageddon and the Jason Bourne movies. He even earned a couple of Oscar nominations for writing and directing George Clooney’s Michael Clayton. The action favorite injects so much undiluted testosterone into his films, in fact, that most movie lovers wouldn’t suspect that, for his first screenwriting job, he teamed up with director Paul Michael Glaser (TV’s Starsky) for the beloved 1992 figure-skating rom-com, The Cutting Edge.
D. B. Sweeney stars as Doug Dorsey, a womanizing up-and-coming hockey star whose promising career is cut short after he takes a hit during the 1988 Olympics. Two years later, instead of scoring goals in front of thousands of cheering fans, he’s working odd jobs for his older brother.
Doug’s last chance at on-ice greatness comes not from a hockey coach but from a figure skating coach. Anton Pamchenko (Roy Dotrice) has been hired to work with prima donna pairs skater Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly), an Olympic hopeful who’s rejected every other possibility. But Doug’s not just another figure skater—and he refuses to let Kate’s attitude get in the way of his big break.
Gilroy’s script for The Cutting Edge fits all of the standard chick flick formulas—with a twist of the usual against-all-odds sports story for added excitement, mixing the romantic tension with a little bit of [not-so-unpredictable] suspense.
Of course, you know where it’s all headed. Will Doug and Kate get their act together and make it to Nationals—and even qualify for the 1992 Olympics? Of course they will. Will they eventually overcome the obstacles (including their mutual hatred) and profess their undying love for one another? You know they will! But that doesn’t make the journey any less enjoyable.
The story is sweet and funny—and sometimes even exciting. But it also doesn’t hurt that the characters are entertaining (and sometimes even charming). Kate, of course, isn’t an easy character to like. Especially in the beginning, she’s spoiled and stiff and totally uptight—and she definitely deserves the unflattering names that everyone else has for her. Fortunately, she eventually starts to loosen up a bit—but, in the meantime, Sweeney’s Doug easily carries the film. Sure, he’s stubborn and a little overconfident. Sure, he has a weakness for the ladies. But he’s such a fun-loving, easy-going character that you can’t help but love him (especially when he’s tormenting his bad-tempered partner).
Together, Sweeney and Kelly have such a playful chemistry that you’ll happily enjoy the romance, the drama, the excitement, and the even same chick flick formulas as you keep you coming back to this lovable rom-com time and time again.
Blu-ray Review:
In addition to the original trailer, the Blu-ray release of The Cutting Edge includes just one other extra: a 10-minute retrospective featurette. Made in 2006—nearly 15 years after the film’s release—it features interviews with both stars (who still look almost as young as they did in 1992), who discuss the training, the filmmaking, and the overwhelmingly positive response from fans.
Of course, if you already own the film’s 2006 DVD release, the feature is nothing new—but, if you haven’t already seen it, it’s definitely worth a look.
