Ice Castles (PG, 1978)

common sense media says

Schmaltzy classic skating movie for romantics.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that 16-year-old Alexis is thrown into a world too fast and big for her. As a consequence, she makes some self-destructive decisions. She cheats on Nick with another skater, and drinks wine at a party. Alexis also feels gross and sexualized by her sponsors. A tragic accident disables Alexis. Teen characters make out and teen sex is implied, not shown.

Positive messages: Some gay-bashing language: "pansies," "lessie." Plus the old "limp wrists" reference.
Violence: Some hockey-related violence, including smashing into walls and a near fistfight. Alexis throws things and breaks them. No one is injured. Beulah wrestles Alexis to the ground in the mitds of a fit. Marcus and Nick go hunting together. They carry guns but don't shoot them. Alexis has a tragic fall on the ice rink that leaves her mostly blind.
Sex: Some making out shown amongst teens and sex is implied. Nick is seen in his underwear.
Language: Considerable swearing, including "hell," "goddamn," "scared s--tless," dammit," "ass," "bitch," and "bastard."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Beulah drinks liquor from the bottle and later drinks beer. Marcus drinks beer, too, and Lexie drinks wine at a party even though she's 16.

More on Ice Castles

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about success and celebrity. How does Lexie handle it? Why does she act out? What other celebs and celeb-athletes act the same way today? Is it easier to understand their behavior after watching this movie? How would you handle fame early in life? Do you think it's all it's cracked up to be?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Sixteen year old Alexis Winston (Lynn-Holly Johnson) has talent -- she's the best natural ice skater that her coach Beulah (Colleen Dewhurst) has ever seen, "and that includes those girls in the Olympics." With the help of Beulah and her boyfriend Nick (Robby Benson), Lexie convinces her overprotective father (Tom Skerritt) to let her enter a regional competition. Soon, she's off training with a professional and competing in the 1980 Olympics, a camera crew follows her every move, and she's on the cover of Sports Illustrated. It's a dream come true and, soon she discovers, a trap all its own. When a fall on an ice rink leaves her nearly blind, she must decide whether figure skating is really what she wants to do, and if so, how will she achieve her goal?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
With a plot that will engage romantics young and old, this Academy Award-nominated film is an excellent illustration of what happens to a girl when she becomes successful too soon. She's isolated from everyone, and her relationships suffer. The other girls gossip about her, sponsors treat her like a piece of meat, and her coach pressures her to be perfect. A girl could be excused for a drink of wine at a party -- or even a more destructive act. It's an intriguing, and more benign, cautionary tale than those being played out by the successful and self-destructive starlets of today.

For those raised on MTV, prepare yourself for some slow moments here. The pacing does a good job of conveying the sadness and sense of loss in the movie -- the theme song does, too -- but it's overdone; Director Donald Wrye and his actors seem to be from the slow-equals-dramatic school of acting.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Sony Pictures
Director: Donald Wrye
Cast: Colleen Dewhurst, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Robby Benson, Tom Skerritt
Genre: Drama
Run time: 108 minutes
Theatrical release: December 31, 1978
DVD release: May 1, 2001
MPAA Rating: PG

This review was written by Heather Boerner
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

greysfan001
teen, 15 years old
 
One Of The Best
Love It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ebogue
parent of 21 year old
 
Great movie
I saw this years ago and loved it.

mpearmai
kid, 12 years old
 
great story
Loved the plot of the story. It was simply AWESOME! I simply LOVE ice skating!

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
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OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age