The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream

... close to the (cutting) edge ... I'm trying not to lose my head ... haha ... it's a wonder sometimes ... no wait, I think I got the last lyrics wrong. Anyway, lest I forget: no pun intended with my re-quoting a hip hop classic. Actually while this feels like a classic rom-com, it also feels a bit updated from the other entries. Especially the camera work. Which is necessary considering that story wise there are not many surprises.

The actors are good enough, you know the beats though (story beats that is). I may take a break from ice skating movies. As good as this looks, there is not much to keep ones attention there ... especially the fabricated "issues" that occur from time to time ... that aside, if you are into movies like this, you won't mind the predictability - enjoy if you can.

"Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream" is an ABC original movie that doesn't fail to entertain but is rather formulated and cliché, especially since the previous two movies in the Cutting Edge series have the same plot: An ice hockey player teaming up with an ice figure skater to win an ice figure skating competition. I personally find it annoying, why can't the figure skater turn into a hockey player to win the ice hockey championship for a change? Anyways, following the exclusive "Cutting Edge formula," through their partnership, the players get infatuated to each other, or should I say "fall in love". The actors were okay, I thought Francia Raisa did a great job acting as the high-headed and aggressive hockey player while Matt Lanter looked good but wasn't all that interesting. Christy Carlson Romano didn't have much to do except walk around and look unsatisfied as their coach.

OK, not sure why I felt compelled to comment on this movie, but having now sat through both the original (pretty good), the 2nd one (awful), and this one (much better), I have a good basis of comparison.

This was not high art, but it was a FAR better movie than the 2nd one. the key here being a pair of relatively unknown actors in the leads who did a nice job and had real chemistry (especially the female lead who was full of bounce and sass without being obnoxious). The leads in the second one were so horribly awkward it was like pulling teeth, but here you have likable and sympathetic characters. And the script lets them be likable too -- another thing that the 2nd movie got horribly wrong.

Unfortunately parts of the script are also the biggest weaknesses with this movie. There a handful of awkward scenes, and down the back half of the movie it was as if they hired some hack to try to artificially find some way to plagiarize as much of the original movie as possible and force it into this one, even when the pacing and fit was off.

But any romance is basically about the romantic leads. If they succeed and work well together, then the romance works. If they don't, it doesn't. Well, in this one they did. And so, not a classic, but eminently watchable for this sort of thing.

This TV movie would not be as good as it is, if Matt Lanter was not in it. He looks really pretty throughout the movie.

Several stock scenes of Seattle were repeated in this movie. It was not necessary.

During their "Paris" competition, it is obvious that the arena is the same as they used for the US national competition. And it looks totally unreal, because there was no advertisement around the skating area. And the signs were all in English.

Matt was wearing all those skin tight hot looking, colorful lycra t-shirts which made him incredibly hot. Male figure skaters always wear those skin tight, fancy looking pants and tops when they compete. Why did the costume people give him those boring long sleeves shirt and regular pants to wear when he was competing? Unlike the "Cutting Edge 2" movie, the body doubles' faces were not very visible which is good.

The story is almost predicable. Of course, this is expected for most of the inspirational movies.

I really loved the first one, and usually the second ones arn't as good. But i felt this one was really good. I loved the intensity and it kept me on my toes all i wanted to do was watch it again and a again. I would recommend this movie to anyone that likes these types of movies. I felt this one is maybe more so for kids than the first one. It seems to concintrate on a younger generation, which is a awesome thing. The first thing i am doing today is going to buy it so i can watch it over and over again. I wouldn't really recommend it for men/boys it's kinda more of a chick flick. I loved the story line of this one and the mantality of the actors. And of course the guy Zack is very very good looking.