The Cutting Edge (film series)

The Cutting Edge film series consists of American sports-romance films, including one theatrical film and three made-for-television movies which were later released straight-to-home video media. Based on characters and an original story written by Tony Gilroy, the plot centers around the unlikely pairing of differing ice sports athletes, for Olympic title pairs figure skating. Beginning as nothing more than argumentative team collaborations, the featured couples become romantically involved.

The Cutting Edge
Official home video release,
boxset collection artwork
Based onThe Cutting Edge
by Tony Gilroy
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
1992–2010
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget>$3,000,000 (Total of 1 film)[lower-alpha 1]

The first film, characterized as a romantic comedy in genre, was met with mixed critical reception. The acting was praised, though some identified the mashup of genres as jarring while stating, "There is essentially not an original moment in the entire film, and yet it's skillfully made and well-acted."[1]

The three made-for-television sequels, which are categorically romantic dramas, were met with varying degrees of mixed critical reception with a common critique being that they are derivatives of the original film. Going for the Gold was criticized for being "geared toward teens", while being praised for the leads;[2][3] Chasing the Dream was praised for being "actually kind of fun", with positive reception for Francia Raisa's acting and the film's direction, choreography, and cinematography;[4][5] while the final installment, Fire and Ice, was met with mixed reception: criticism pointed at being perceived as a cash-grab, while praise was received for believable on-screen chemistry between the leads and for a "touching story".[6][7]

Films
Film U.S. release date Director Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s)
The Cutting Edge March 27, 1992 (1992-03-27) Paul Michael Glaser Tony Gilroy Robert W. Cort, Ted Field and Karen Murphy
The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold February 7, 2006 (2006-02-07) Sean McNamara Dan Berendsen David Brookwell, Sean McNamara, David Buelow and David Grace
The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream March 16, 2008 (2008-03-16) Stuart Gillard Randall Badat Susan Estelle Jansen & Randall Badat Irene Litinsky
The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice March 14, 2010 (2010-03-14) Stephen Herek Holly Brix

The Cutting Edge (1992)
Main article: The Cutting Edge

Talented and confident figure-skating prodigy Kate Moseley is denied a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics, after missing her footing and taking a fall. In the following months, as she drives away partner after partner, her coach named Anton searches for a replacement so that she will be ready for the next Olympic games. Anton decides to attempt to pair her with an unorthodoxed teammate; an arrogant former-Olympic hockey star named, Doug Dorsey. Reluctantly working together, they soon realize that the two athletes had briefly encountered years before. The duo's combative collaboration begins to turn into chemistry. As they grow closer in the rink, their relationship becomes romantic in their personal lives.[8]

The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold (2006)
Main article: The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold

Jackie Dorsey is the daughter of 1992 Winter Olympics Gold medalists, Kate Moseley and Doug Dorsey. Growing up under their tutelage, Jackie develops dreams of her own and decides that she will compete and win her own Olympic gold medal. Her dreams seem to come to an abrupt end, after suffering a career threatening injury. As she recovers and strives to overcome her traumatic experience, she is paired with a new skating partner named Alex Harrison. Talented in his own right, the couple find that their respective stubbornness and pride creates a difficult environment. As they begin to trust each other, their relationship changes and becomes romantic in nature. Working together their dreams of becoming Olympic champions, gets closer to becoming a reality.[3]

The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream (2008)
Main article: The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream

When talented Zack Conroy's pair-skating partner suffers an injury, he is tasked with finding someone to replace her. He accidentally discovers the skilled female hockey player, Alejandra "Alex" Delgado. Though Alex has not had figure skating lessons since childhood, she proves to be a quick study. With the help of coach Jackie Dorsey, Zack and Alex learn to work through their differences, in life and on the rink, so they can reach their goal of competing in Paris.[5]

The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice (2010)
Main article: The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice

The career of figure skating all-star, Alejandra "Alex" Delgado, comes to a standstill after her partner and boyfriend, Zack Conroy, suffered an injury. As their athletic relationship diminishes, so too does their relationship. Following their breakup and experiencing heartbreak, Alex turns to working as an ice skating teacher. Her competitive nature and passion for pairs figure skating rekindles, when an unexpected opportunity arises. Egotistical "bad boy" of speed skating James McKinsey, whose uncontrolled personal life gets him banned from the national team, works with his promotion team to start a career in pairs figure skating. Tempted by the chance at another world title, Alex agrees to work with him. Initial practices prove that their personalities are opposites, though their work-ethic is a match. As they become more familiar with each other, their argumentative clashes escalate until their tumultuous determination becomes personal. As their relationship becomes romantic, they work even harder to reach their life's goals of a championship title.[7]

Main cast and characters
Character Films
The Cutting Edge The Cutting Edge:
Going for the Gold		 The Cutting Edge:
Chasing the Dream		 The Cutting Edge:
Fire and Ice
Doug Dorsey D. B. Sweeney Scott Thompson Baker  
Kate Moseley-Dorsey Moira Kelly Stepfanie Kramer  
Jaclyn "Jackie" Dorsey   Christy Carlson Romano  
Alex Harrison   Ross Thomas  
Zach Conroy   Matt Lanter Referenced
Alexandra "Alex" Delgado   Francia Raisa
James McKinsey   Brendan Fehr

Additional crew and production details
Film Crew/Detail
Composer Cinematographer Editor(s) Production
companies		 Distributing
companies		 Running time
The Cutting Edge Patrick Williams Elliot Davis Michael E. Polakow Interscope Communications Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 96 minutes
The Cutting Edge:
Going for the Gold		 John Coda Mark Doering–Powell Jeff W. Canavan First Family Entertainment,
Brookwell McNamara Entertainment,
MGM Television		 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment,
ABC Family		 94 minutes
The Cutting Edge:
Chasing the Dream		 Robert Duncan Pierre Jodoin James R. Symons MGM Television Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment,
ABC Family,
The CW Network		 92 minutes
The Cutting Edge:
Fire and Ice		 Bennett Salvay Seth Flaum & Anthony Markward ABC Family Original Movies,
MGM Television,
Muse Entertainment Enterprises		 ABC Family,
Disney–ABC Domestic Television		 87 minutes

Reception

Box office and financial performance
Film Box office gross Box office ranking Video
sales gross		 Budget Ref.
North America Other territories Worldwide All-time
North America		 All-time
worldwide		 North America
The Cutting Edge $25,105,517 — $25,105,517 #3,319 #4,585 information not available information not available [9][10][11]
The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold — — — — — information not available $3,000,000 [12]
The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream — — — — — information not available information not available
The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice — — — — — information not available information not available
Totals $25,105,517 25,105,517 x̅ 829[lower-alpha 2] x̅ 1,146[lower-alpha 3] >$3,000,000
  1. These figures are based on the available numbers for the theatrical film. Though there are a total four movies released, there is no financial information publicly available for the other releases.
  2. This is an approximate average, based on the all-time standing of each theatrically released film.
  3. This is an approximate average, based on the all-time standing of each theatrically released film.

Critical and public response
Film Rotten Tomatoes CinemaScore
The Cutting Edge 56% (34 reviews)[13] A−[14]
The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold —[15] —
The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream —[16] —
The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice —[17] —

References
  1. Ebert, Roger (March 27, 1992). "Reviews: The Cutting Edge". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  2. Cohn, Angel (2006). "The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold". TV Guide. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  3. Ashby, Emily (2006). "The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold". Common Sense Media. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  4. Moss, Marilyn (March 12, 2008). "The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  5. Bannon, Anne Louise (2008). "The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream". Common Sense Media. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  6. Carpenter, Edwin L. (2011). "The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice". Dove.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  7. Ashby, Emily (2011). "The Cutting Edge: Fire & Ice". Common Sense Media. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  8. Variety Staff (December 31, 1991). "The Cutting Edge". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  9. "The Cutting Edge". Box Office Mojo.
  10. "The Cutting Edge (1992) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
  11. Canavese, Peter. "The Cutting Edge (1992) [* 1/2]". GrouchoReviews.
  12. "The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold". February 7, 2006 – via IMDb.
  13. "The Cutting Edge (1992)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  14. "CinemaScore". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  15. "Cutting Edge 2: Going for the Gold (2006)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  16. "The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  17. "The Cutting Edge: Fire & Ice (2010)". Rotten Tomatoes.
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