The Cutting Edge
Directed by Paul Michael Glaser (1992)
If ever there were a film that proved the old adage “it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it,” it would be The Cutting Edge. I have zero personal investment in ice skating, and romantic films are seldom my cup of tea. Yet somehow, against all odds, this movie pulls off the nearly impossible: it made me care about both.
What elevates The Cutting Edge above its formulaic trappings is the passion radiating from every frame. Both the sports drama and the slow-burn romance are handled with such affectionate sincerity that it’s easy to get swept up in the journey. From the very first meet-cute between cocky hockey bad boy Doug Dorsey (D.B. Sweeney) and elite, no-nonsense figure skater Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly), I was hooked. Their chemistry isn’t just convincing—it’s electrifying. Watching their dynamic evolve from mutual disdain to reluctant partnership, and finally to genuine love and respect, is a ride that feels as satisfying as any underdog sports victory.
Yes, the arc is familiar. You know where it’s headed. But that’s the beauty of it—it leans into the tropes with confidence, warmth, and just enough grit to feel earned rather than manufactured. Both leads bring a lived-in quality to their roles that makes the emotional beats hit harder than expected. Moira Kelly, in particular, imbues Kate with a prickly vulnerability that never tips into caricature, while Sweeney’s Doug feels every bit the rough-edged charmer with something to prove.
Then there’s the skating. I’m no Olympic judge, but what’s captured on screen is genuinely mesmerizing. The choreography is elegant and athletic, and the camera knows exactly when to get out of the way and just let the movement speak. The final performance (the Pamchenko Twist) is still thrilling even if you’ve seen it before, and it’s execution is nothing short of triumphant. The skating sequences are crafted with such reverence and beauty that, for a moment, I understood why people fall in love with the sport. Also, the soundtrack is kinda perfect for an early 90’s movie, transforming many montages into pure fun.
The Cutting Edge may not reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a classic example of how sincerity, chemistry, and heart can turn a “basic” story into something unforgettable. It’s comfort food cinema at its finest—adorable, earnest, and endlessly rewatchable.
Rating: A-
