I was a child of the late ’80’s and ’90’s, so my first memories of movies were VHS tapes. With so many viewings and rewindings, you could wear those suckers out. Sure, you had to try really hard, but my family managed to do it several times. I think between myself and my two sisters, we broke two or three copies a piece of Die Hard, Dirty Dancing, Jurassic Park and this movie, The Cutting Edge. We watched the hell out of this movie. In fact, you can still sneak up behind my mother and whisper, “Toepick”, and it elicits a giggle.
Doug Dorsey is a talented college hockey player who gets injured while playing at the Olympics, thus ending the bright promise of a professional career. Kate Moseley is a spoiled rotten figure skater who has everything she’s ever wanted — except an Olympic gold medal. Doug desperately wants to play hockey again and Kate wants nothing more than that coveted gold medal. A kooky coach brings the two together, forcing them to get along in order to achieve what they both want. And, oh yeah, they fall in love along the way. Aww!
I was surprised, I guess, to learn how much this movie’s taken hold among many people I know, including those in the hockey blogosphere; you can probably catch a drive-by quoting of The Cutting Edge at Interchangeable Parts or A View From The Cheap Seats, both hockey blogs run by bloggers who adore this movie (Schnookie & Pookie over at Interchangeable Parts wold declare it to be one of the finest movies ever made, no doubt. In fact, I believe they have a D.B. Sweeney autographed VHS copy of this movie, as well.)
Doug’s easygoing, loose ways don’t sit well with demanding, bossy Kate. The quips and digs at each other fly quickly, particularly from Kate. Doug and Kate also seem to have the misfortune of crap family members, as evidenced by Kate’s father and Doug’s…whatever he is. (Cousin? Uncle? Brother? Some dude who is related to Doug and owns a bar that he constantly is trying to get Doug to work in, giving Doug lots of angst about the fact that he’s a hockey player, not a damn bartender, for God’s sake.)
Meet Doug’s whositwhatsit family member. It never speaks well of your family tree when you’re related to someone who looks like a cross-breed of Ed Belfour and Mickey Rooney.
Meet Kate’s way-overbearing daddy played by Terry O’Quinn (yeah, that dude from LOST!) whose biggest talent seems to be the fact that he’s an enormous jackass. Look at that pencil mustache. It says it all, right there.
After moving past the genetic roadblock that is their respective family members, and Kate finally comes to terms with the fact that she’s pissed everyone else off so badly, Doug’s her only shot — they have to pull off a move in competition that’s crazy and wacky and will set the entire figure skating world on fire. This means Doug and Kate have to find a way to reapply their energies to figure skating rather than developing crazy, Spy vs. Spy ways of slowly, painfully killing each other.
Through it all, Kate and Doug have their ups and downs, their total missteps, adventures in tequila and crazy Russian coaches (you had me at hello, Furry Hatted Coach Who Speaks Crazily) and they pull it all off and fall in love.
I think I could watch this movie every day for a long time and never get sick of it. I can’t actually tell you how many times I’ve really seen this movie, because it’s probably a sad number of times. It usually gets a rash of multiple repeated viewings in my family around Olympics time — Summer or Winter — and I seriously, positively cannot think of anything that binds people of like minds together more quickly than a simple spoken “toepick”.
What a great review! I love that this is tagged “movie crack”. Pookie and I have watched this movie so many times that we’ve found ourselves at times parsing its awesomeness as if it actually were a great movie. Like, seriously assessing the quality of the costume design (apparently done by one of the biggest names in Broadway stage costume design, which probably explains why the clothes Doug wears are such a terrible misstep and so totally not authentically “hockey jock”), or the intelligence of the editing, or how artfully the stock characters are developed with an economy of set-up. What it all boils down to is that the script is really surprisingly smart. The barbed comments Doug and Kate toss at each other remain fresh no matter how many times you watch it, and they get an even number of great shots in at each other, so you end up liking them both equally. And the chemistry is awesome!
Sheesh, now I’m publicly making an ass of myself for talking seriously like this about “The Cutting Edge” outside of the privacy of my own home. I should stop now… :D
Schnookie, you’ll be pleased to know the script was written by Tony Gilroy, who also wrote/co-wrote most of the Bourne series scripts and wrote Armageddon.
The jokes always stay fresh! That’s one of the great things about this movie that you hit right on the head; no matter when you watch it, it stays funny.
And it’s okay. I discuss liking way worse movies outside of my own home! Just look at the movies andrew and I discuss!
Holy flirking schnit — the scriptwriter of the “Cutting Edge” wrote the “Bourne” movies?! No wonder I love Bourne so!
Seriously, great review, Caitlin! I second everything you and Schnookie said. It really does always hit the spot. There’s never even one scene where I think, “I’ve seen this too many times”. And as someone who lives off referencing movies, this one is a freakin’ gold mine.
That explains why I’ve always gotten a strong “Cutting Edge” vibe off the Bourne series. :D (I’d say it probably explains why the Bourne movies are among my all-time faves, too, but I think that has a lot more to do with smoking-hot, super-assassin Matt Damon than it has to do with the zinginess of the screenplay…)
Pookie, he also wrote Michael Clayton and The Devil’s Advocate. Hee!
I never get tired of this movie. I think it’s because there’s something new to see every single time!
Schnookie, I adore the Bourne series. Reportedly they’re doing a 4th Bourne movie, but I seriously hope not. It would be a shame to possibly ruin all those fine movies. :)
Dude, I haven’t seen The Cutting Edge in yeeeaaaaars. I remember it being pretty funny. I also remember Dougs dad/cousin/creepy uncle refering to the Red Wings being the lowest of the low in the NHL. That makes for cinema gold!
“I discuss liking way worse movies outside of my own home! Just look at the movies andrew and I discuss!”
She’s got a point. But the way I see it, it’s much more fun to discuss awful movies. Good movies are fine, but I let the critics discuss them to death. Give me a discussion on the merits of ‘Glen or Glenda’ or ‘Chained Heat’ any day.
Why do I keep saying ‘discuss’? I need a beer.
Heh. andrew, I need a beer like whoa, so I’m with you on that.
Awful movies, at least, you can make fun of. I dig good movies, but it’s the utter trash that interests me!
Also, that statement about movies wasn’t a dig at you, andrew, I’m just saying that we’ve had discussions about movies before where I liked ’em and they were total crap. :D
Why do I keep saying ‘discuss’? I need a beer.
Yeah, I was totally thinking here that you were BADLY overusing the word “discuss”. :P
I think we all need a beer. Just… on principle.
I also remember Dougs dad/cousin/creepy uncle refering to the Red Wings being the lowest of the low in the NHL.
HAHAHA!!! He totally does! In the great “Go piss up a rope” speech. I adore that.
Also, that statement about movies wasn’t a dig at you, andrew, I’m just saying that we’ve had discussions about movies before where I liked ‘em and they were total crap. :D
So, that last post was supposed to contain a response to your quote, but I fucked that up too. Clearly, I need more than one beer.
It’s cool Caitlin, I knew exactly where you were coming from!
I think we all need a beer. Just… on principle.
Totally true.
andrew, I really and truly think I could use a great big case of beer at the moment, that’s for sure. sigh.
Where’s Earl Sleek when you need him? Surely he’d have booze he could send me. :(
“andrew, I really and truly think I could use a great big case of beer at the moment, that’s for sure. sigh.”
Mmmmm…case of beer.
so, speaking of kickass movies. I watched Akira last night. Hadn’t seen it in a few years. Still rocks my face off.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Akira, andrew, and the last time I saw it I really do think I consumed a case of beer, so my memories are foggy at best. :D
And so the case of beer comes full circle.
I’m not the biggest anime fan in the world, but I loves me some Akira.
I actually have never seen this movie. I feel shame.
I actually have never seen this movie. I feel shame.
No shame, alix! No shame! There’s lots of stuff I haven’t seen that I probably should have. I mean, it’s a good movie and I recommend it, but I wouldn’t let yourself feel shamed over it.
(Plus that tutu picture was too awesome for words!)
I actually have never seen this movie. I feel shame.
WHAT?!?!?
I mean, it’s a good movie and I recommend it, but I wouldn’t let yourself feel shamed over it.
WHAT?!?!?!
Just kidding!
WHAT?!?!?
HAHAHAHAH!
Did you know there’s a Cutting Edge 2? I wouldn’t watch it though because it sounds like the equivalent of Caddyshack 2 where the first Cutting Edge would be the romantic hockey film version of the original Caddyshack — yes, I really liked this movie too.
Fun fact: A few years back Kevin Smith spoke at my college and told everyone that The Cutting Edge was one of his favorite movies.
Matt, that is so cool about Kevin Smith! I am on the fence about how I feel about Kevin Smith, but that makes me heart him just a little, yeah.
I know there’s a Cutting Edge 2 and now, with even more ice skating, a Cutting Edge 3! I haven’t seen either, and don’t plan on it.
Matt, I love that you loved the Cutting Edge. I knew there was a reason I liked you!
My affection for The Cutting Edge is one of the top reasons people like me. A second is how I usually smell pretty good.
Matt, I’m sorry to say that I’ve never smelled you, but I am sure you smell fantabulous.
I’m a straight guy and I love this movie…
Can’t get Moira Kelly out of my head.
She’s sooooooo cute!
I’ll make her my ice princess anytime…hehe ^_^
I’m a straight guy and I love this movie…
Can’t get Moira Kelly out of my head.
Aww! Moira Kelly should be in more movies, that’s for sure.
She’s sooooooo cute!
So is D.B. Sweeney! We can all unite in our love of cute Cutting Edge stars. Heh.
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