The Cutting Edge - PG

Guilty-pleasure '90s romance you can skate to.

Rating: PG for parental guidance Studio: MGM Home Entertainment Directed By: Paul Glaser Cast: D.B. Sweeney, Moira Kelly, Roy Dotrice Running Time: 102 minutes Release Date: 03/26/1992 Genre: Drama

Common Sense Note

Parents should know that this skating film's PG rating belies several scenes of mild sexuality and one scene of binge drinking presented as celebrating. Doug sleeps with different women and Kate throws herself at Doug after an all-night drinking binge. Doug gets injured twice, once by his hockey teammates and once by Kate. Doug doesn't remember the name of the girl he slept with and generally treats women as sex objects. Kate is an angry character who finds Doug a good outlet for her frustrations. Overall, the film provides a good illustration of ambitious young women and what they sacrifice to get what they want.

Families can talk about the double standard in behavior that's acceptable from Kate and Doug. Why is it OK for Doug to have anonymous sex with women and take weekend breaks, when Kate is required to stay around the house, skate constantly, and never see her boyfriend? Do you see double standards like that in your own lives? What do you think about Kate's priorities and how did they shift at the end of the film? Where does the pressure to succeed come from in her life? Why is your state of mind so important in any competition? What do you do to prepare for sports or tournaments?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Heather Boerner

Sex, drugs, and … figure skating? Yep. THE CUTTING EDGE is a kind of souped-up retelling of The Taming of the Shrew, with a strong, compelling female lead and a strong man just sensitive enough to know a good thing when he sees it.

Doug (the charismatic D.B. Sweeney) is that man, a philandering hockey player who sustained a serious injury during the Olympics that stopped his career in its tracks. Meanwhile, Kate (Moira Kelly) is the perfect ice princess, literally. When she falls on the ice during the Olympics, she blames her partner and spend the next two years eviscerating any man who comes close to her personal ice rink in tony Connecticut. Then in walks Doug, who is not intimidated by Kate or her rages. But can they work well enough together to be ready for the nationals in a year? And can Kate and Doug finally reach their goals of winning a gold medal?

As far as romantic comedies go, the answer is obvious. But getting there is all the fun. There are great montages of workouts and fumbling on the ice. Soon it becomes clear why these two are attracted to each other: they're both uber-competitive and neither are intimidated by the other. What's most interesting here is that Kate's character, far from being a one-dimensional harpy of Shakespearean fame, is a complex, driven woman looking for an equal, not someone easily intimidated by her considerable strengths. The message of the film, in the end, is finding true love means finding someone who accepts you just the way you are.

However, the film's weakness is also a problem universal to love stories: the chemistry between Kate and Doug is electric and also dramatic. They fight and often they hate each other. And while this is fun to watch, it's no fun to be in such relationships. Impressionable teens may not understand that.

People who like this film will also enjoy Billy Elliot, Ice Princess, and Bring It On.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Doug is often bear-chested and shown in bed with two different women at different times. The women are wearing a sheet and a pillow, respectively. Doug walks in on Kate naked, but the viewer only sees her bare back. There's considerable flirting and innuendo between Kate and Doug. Kate kisses her boyfriend, Hale, and later Kate and Doug kiss.
Violence Doug gets pummeled by other hockey players during a game, leaving him unconscious. Lots of skating-related falling and injuries. Doug is shown in one shot wearing underwear stuffed with ice to ease pain. Kate hits Doug in the face with a hockey puck, breaking his nose.
Language Some salty language, including "hell," "goddamn," "piss," "bitch," "s--t," and "ass."
Message
	Social Behavior Kate and Doug are both complex, strong characters and worthy topics of conversation for families looking to discuss gender roles. Doug's family teases him for being a figure skater and there are some negative stereotypes of gay men in the film.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Several people drink champagne moderately at a Christmas party. Doug and Kate share an evening of binge drinking in which Kate makes a pass at Doug and passes out.