 | 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 Princess
- Review Date: July 17, 2005
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Sweet, inspiring story tween girls will love.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the movie has some tense confrontations, some mild language ("that pretty much blew") and a few kisses. There is a brief shot of a painful-looking wound.
What's the story?
This is a story of a girl with a dream, but it's also the story of two mothers with dreams for their daughters, both based on dreams of their own that didn't come true. Casey's mother (Joan Cusack) wants her daughter to become a brilliant scholar. She also wants Casey (Michelle Trachtenberg ), an aspiring scientist/skater, to dress in sensible (dowdy and middle-aged) clothes. She doesn't like the "twinkie little outfits" that figure skaters wear and admits that "no matter how old the rest of us get, we will still always hate the prom queen." Coach Tina (Kim Cattrall) was once a figure skating champion who made a mistake that cost her a chance at an Olympic gold medal. She wants her daughter Gen (Hayden Panettiere) to get the gold medal she could not have. And when Gen tells her that she wants more than skating in her life, she doesn't listen. Both mothers have to learn that their daughters are entitled to their own dreams. The daughters have to learn that, too.
Is it any good?
When you hear the premise -- brainy but shy girl dreams of being champion figure skater, has anything-to-win coach, likes cute Zamboni driver -- you may think that there won't be any surprises. But there are, and they're all nice ones. The first surprise is the characters, who rise above the usual bland, interchangeable stick figures for movies of this kind. Michelle Trachtenberg brings a nice shy spirit to Casey, the, and she has able support from the always-engaging Joan Cusack as her mother and the nicely flinty Kim Cattrall as the coach. But the nicest surprise is that after a spate of "mean girl" movies, this one gives us a character who competes with Casey who is honest, loyal, and supportive.
The story had an assist from The Princess Diaries author Meg Cabot, which may be why it feels like it should be called "Ice Princess Diaries." But the formula is nicely played out, with sincerity and sweetness enough to inspire the young viewers to come up with some dreams of their own.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the most important advice that Casey gets from Gen. Why does Casey decide to trust Tina? How does Casey decide what is most important to her? What does she learn from her mother and what does she learn from Tina? They could also discuss the mothering styles of Joan and Tina. How are they alike, how are they different, and what do they have in common with your family?
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AGE
Cute movie...
I thought that this was a cute movie. It definitely inspires little girls to try hard and follow their dreams. I think I was a little old for it, but kids around 7-9 would like it.
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AGE
Oh my gosh...
This movie was insanely... Disney. If you want a totally child-safe movie, this is it. I personally didn't like it, but the worst part is probably the main character fighting with her mom.
Definitely a go if you want a movie for the young kids.
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AGE
Lots to talk about....
I too really disliked the ultimate message of this movie...Not that all movies have to tow the line and be Politically Correct.. But it really would have been fabulous to have had a smart and beautiful protagonist who majors in physics at Harvard AND ice skates. There are just so very few positive images and role models in the media for girls. What if you don't want to be a rock/pop/movie/webcast star, a star athlete or a model??? I feel as though I spend major amounts of my time trying to counter the Disney and Cartoon Network images of girls and women...and we don't really watch much TV at all!
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AGE
was glad to have my daughter as an excuse to see this
I completely enjoyed the movie, wept copiously. Much of the message was above my 6-year-old's head, but she enjoyed the skating.
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Kid, 11 years old
November 9, 2009
AGE
its great
This movie is great, I loved it!
I think that girls 7-14 will think it is cool.
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AGE
GREAT
This movie is pritty good girls ages 7-13 or 14 are going to love it!!!! i know i did!!!!!
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AGE
Disney done somthing right with this movie
My favorite disney movie! Great pace, awesome acting, good story.
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AGE
Sends the WRONG message to our smart girls!
This movie is pretty innocuous on the surface, but the message is incredibly wrong for this era's young people. A very intelligent girl - highly gifted in math and science - is portrayed as making a good choice to pursue a VERY unrealistic dream of ice skating, mostly to flaunt what is percieved as her mother's dream that she go to Harvard. While some parents may be trying to fulfill their own dreams, most are just trying to get their children to make good and wise life choices about what the future really holds. This movie would otherwise be OK, but the message is all wrong for our smart young girls.
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AGE
a sweet and enchanting movie for preteen girls.
The story of Ice Princess is a story based on a girl who wants to achieve her dream of becoming an ice skater with out disappointing her own mother, in which though out the drama must she make a choice that could her life's course: Harvard and a mothers pride or Ice Skating and fame? The movie of Ice Princess teaches many girls on how important it is to follow your dreams and to make your own choices and it teaches mothers and fathers to not project their dreams on their daughters and sons in which I believe is important to learn. A great movie, sweet and enchanting for preteen girls like me.
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AGE
I Fell Asleep!!
This movie is so little kids. I litteraly fell asleep!! They should try harder for a different plot. But some parts were good.
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| Topics: | sports and martial arts |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Tim Fywell |
| Cast: | Joan Cusack, Kim Cattrall, Michelle Trachtenberg |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 92 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 18, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | July 19, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
| MPAA explanation: | all audiences |
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