The Cutting Edge (film series)

The Cutting Edge film series consists of American sports-romance films, including one theatrical film and three made-for-television movies which were later released straight-to-home video media. Based on characters and an original story written by Tony Gilroy, the plot centers around the unlikely pairing of differing ice sports athletes, for Olympic title pairs figure skating. Beginning as nothing more than argumentative team collaborations, the featured couples become romantically involved.
The first film, characterized as a romantic comedy in genre, was met with mixed critical reception. The acting was praised, though some identified the mashup of genres as jarring while stating, "There is essentially not an original moment in the entire film, and yet it's skillfully made and well-acted."
The three made-for-television sequels, which are categorically romantic dramas, were met with varying degrees of mixed critical reception with a common critique being that they are derivatives of the original film. Going for the Gold was criticized for being "geared toward teens", while being praised for the leads; Chasing the Dream was praised for being "actually kind of fun", with positive reception for Francia Raisa's acting and the film's direction, choreography, and cinematography; while the final installment, Fire and Ice, was met with mixed reception: criticism pointed at being perceived as a cash-grab, while praise was received for believable on-screen chemistry between the leads and for a "touching story".
== Films ==
Film 	U.S. release date	Director 	Screenwriter(s)	Story by 	Producer(s)
The Cutting Edge 	 	Paul Michael Glaser	Tony Gilroy 	Tony Gilroy 	Robert W. Cort, Ted Field and Karen Murphy
The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold	 	Sean McNamara 	Dan Berendsen 	Dan Berendsen 	David Brookwell, Sean McNamara, David Buelow and David Grace
The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream 	 	Stuart Gillard 	Randall Badat 	Susan Estelle Jansen & Randall Badat	Irene Litinsky
The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice 	 	Stephen Herek 	Holly Brix 	Holly Brix 	Irene Litinsky
===The Cutting Edge (1992)===
Talented and confident figure-skating prodigy Kate Moseley is denied a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics, after missing her footing and taking a fall. In the following months, as she drives away partner after partner, her coach named Anton searches for a replacement so that she will be ready for the next Olympic games. Anton decides to attempt to pair her with an unorthodoxed teammate; an arrogant former-Olympic hockey star named, Doug Dorsey. Reluctantly working together, they soon realize that the two athletes had briefly encountered years before. The duo's combative collaboration begins to turn into chemistry. As they grow closer in the rink, their relationship becomes romantic in their personal lives.
===The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold (2006)===
Jackie Dorsey is the daughter of 1992 Winter Olympics Gold medalists, Kate Moseley and Doug Dorsey. Growing up under their tutelage, Jackie develops dreams of her own and decides that she will compete and win her own Olympic gold medal. Her dreams seem to come to an abrupt end, after suffering a career threatening injury. As she recovers and strives to overcome her traumatic experience, she is paired with a new skating partner named Alex Harrison. Talented in his own right, the couple find that their respective stubbornness and pride creates a difficult environment. As they begin to trust each other, their relationship changes and becomes romantic in nature. Working together their dreams of becoming Olympic champions, gets closer to becoming a reality.
===The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream (2008)===
When the talented pairs figure-skater Zack Conroy is tasked with finding a new partner, due to his current collaborater suffering an injury, he discovers the talented female-hockey player Alejandra Delgado. Delgado who has experience in the sport, though she to give up figure skating at a younger age due to the fact that her parents could no longer afford the lessons, proves to be a quick learner. The couple work through their differences, to improve their chemistry in the rink. With the help of Coach Jackie Dorsey, Zack and Alex strive to reach their goals, while trying to not fall in love with each other in the process.
===The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice (2010)===
The career of figure skating all-star, Alejandra "Alex" Delgado, comes to a standstill after her partner and boyfriend, Zack Conroy, suffered an injury. As their athletic relationship diminishes, so too does their relationship. Following their breakup and experiencing heartbreak, Alex turns to working as an ice skating teacher. Her competitive nature and passion for pairs figure skating rekindles, when an unexpected opportunity arises. Egotistical "bad boy" of speed skating James McKinsey, whose uncontrolled personal life gets him banned from the national team, works with his promotion team to start a career in pairs figure skating. Tempted by the chance at another world title, Alex agrees to work with him. Initial practices prove that their personalities are opposites, though their work-ethic is a match. As they become more familiar with each other, their argumentative clashes escalate until their tumultuous determination becomes personal. As their relationship becomes romantic, they work even harder to reach their life's goals of a championship title.
==Main cast and characters==
Character 	Films 	Films 	Films 	Films
Character 	The Cutting Edge	Going for the Gold 	Chasing the Dream 	Fire and Ice
Doug Dorsey 	D. B. Sweeney 	Scott Thompson Baker 	  	 
Kate Moseley-Dorsey 	Moira Kelly 	Stepfanie Kramer 	  	 
Jaclyn "Jackie" Dorsey 	  	Christy Carlson Romano	Christy Carlson Romano	 
Alex Harrison 	  	Ross Thomas 	  	 
Zach Conroy 	  	  	Matt Lanter 	Referenced
Alexandra "Alex" Delgado	  	  	Francia Raisa 	Francia Raisa
James McKinsey 	  	  	  	Brendan Fehr
==Additional crew and production details==
Film 	Crew/Detail 	Crew/Detail 	Crew/Detail 	Crew/Detail 	Crew/Detail 	Crew/Detail 	Crew/Detail
Film 	Composer 	Cinematographer 	Editor(s) 	Production companies 	Distributing companies 	Running time	
The Cutting Edge 	Patrick Williams	Elliot Davis 	Michael E. Polakow 	Interscope Communications 	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 	96 minutes 	
The Cutting Edge:	John Coda 	Mark Doering–Powell	Jeff W. Canavan 	First Family Entertainment, Brookwell McNamara Entertainment, MGM Television	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment, ABC Family 	94 minutes 	
The Cutting Edge:	Robert Duncan 	Pierre Jodoin 	James R. Symons 	MGM Television 	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment, ABC Family, The CW Network	92 minutes 	
The Cutting Edge:	Bennett Salvay 	Pierre Jodoin 	Seth Flaum & Anthony Markward	ABC Family Original Movies, MGM Television, Muse Entertainment Enterprises 	ABC Family, Disney–ABC Domestic Television 	87 minutes 	
==Reception==
===Box office and financial performance===
Film 	Box office gross	Box office gross 	Box office gross	Box office ranking 	Box office ranking	Video sales gross	Budget 	
Film 	North America 	Other territories	Worldwide 	All-time North America	All-time worldwide	North America 	Budget 	
The Cutting Edge 	$25,105,517 	 	$25,105,517 	#3,319 	#4,585 	 	 	
The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold	 	 	 	 	 	 	$3,000,000 	
The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Totals 	$25,105,517 	 	25,105,517 	x̅ 829 	x̅ 1,146 	 	>$3,000,000	
=== Critical and public response ===
Film 	Rotten Tomatoes 	CinemaScore
The Cutting Edge 	56% (34 reviews)	A-
The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold	 	
The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream 	 	
The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice 	 	
== References ==
== External links ==
Category:American ice hockey films