 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Ice Castles
- Review Date: August 28, 2007
- PG
- Genre: Drama
- 1978
Common Sense Media says
Schmaltzy classic skating movie for romantics.
Parents say
Kids 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.
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?
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.
What families can talk about
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?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
One Of The Best
Love It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Great movie
I saw this years ago and loved it.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
January 9, 2009
AGE
great story
Loved the plot of the story. It was simply AWESOME! I simply LOVE ice skating!
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Topics: | sports and martial arts |
| Studio: | Sony Pictures |
| Director: | Donald Wrye |
| Cast: | Colleen Dewhurst, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Robby Benson, Tom Skerritt |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 108 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 31, 1978 |
| DVD release date: | May 1, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
