Movie Review:

Ice Princess

by Lynn B.

Ever struggle with the parents when they expect you to live their dreams? Then you’ll feel right at home with Michelle Trachtenberg when she wants to rebel and hit the ice!

Casey Carlyle (Michelle Trachtenberg) is a whiz at math and physics but can’t score high in the social world. Her mom (Joan Cusack), an old-school women’s libber, is super proud that Casey is headed for Harvard on a math scholarship. Casey envies popular girl Gen Harwood (Hayden Panettiere) who is training to be an ice skating champion with her driven, ex-Olympian mom Tina (Kim Cattrall) pushing her all the way.

Needing to write a physics thesis paper to get into Harvard, Casey realizes that there is a relationship between the dynamics of the jumps in ice skating and physics. To research and prove her theory, Casey starts taking skating classes and turns out to be a natural! She also falls for Gen’s brother Teddy (Trevor Blumas), a hunky Zamboni driver at the rink.

Will Casey and Gen realize they have a lot in common after all? Will Casey choose Harvard or hit the ice and shoot for the Olympics? Will her mom understand if she chooses sports in short skirts over a classy, prestigious college education?

It’s a bit of a departure for a Disney film to present TWO single-parent families but it’s a good move. So many young people and their parents can relate. The focus on moms and daughters and the pressure moms can put on their girls to be an extension of them and live their dreams is also a relevant subject to tackle.

It’s nice to see physics applied to everyday life, in this case, a sport, so that, if you are good in math, you can see how it might be cool to use the principles it teaches. It’s also really great, for a change, to see that the hot, popular girls in this film aren’t necessarily “Mean Girls” but have their own pressures and problems that explain their actions. They also soften up to the lead girl once she gets to know them.

Sure, there’s no new territory in relationships being explored here but the conflicts are presented with heart and understanding for each character’s point of view. Ice Princess is at times funny, sad and a little romantic. The film is quite watchable by a group of girlfriends, girls and their guys and moms and daughters. With several professional ice skaters onboard as actors and advisors and, with the addition of some crafty camera moves, the skating looks very “pro”. Michelle looks great and is very sympathetic as Casey. Kim Cattrall is wonderful as a driven mom trying to live through her daughter and Joan Cusack, whom we rarely see in a role like this, is quirky but believable as Casey’s mom. Trevor Blumas is warm, cute and winning.

If you’ve ever had a dream that clashes with your family’s “plans” for you, or even if they are helping you live your dream, you can enjoy this trip to the rink. So, put on your earmuffs and give it a go.

 

This movie is rated G

Official Movie Web Site - ICE PRINCESS

Pictures courtesy of and copyright Walt Disney Pictures 2005