Ice Princess

ICE PRINCESS is not the kind of movie to which this reviewer is usually attracted - the trappings indicate that we are in for a happy-wappy, sterilized, PG, Disney candy box. But, surprise!, here is a film that is better than its package. Writers Meg Cabot and Hadley Davis have combined the sport of ice skating with the drama of teenage angst and come up with a credible tale of a 'science geek' discovering her talent and following her dream of figure skating.

Director Tim Fywell knows his way around the ice rink and the halls and lockers of high school kids and his preparation for the film is apparent. Casey (Michelle Trachtenberg) is a fine student who is encouraged by her physics professor to find a project that incorporates her personality along with physics that will assist her in gaining a scholarship to Harvard. Casey's mother (Joan Cusack) is a pragmatist, a schoolteacher who wants Casey to succeed beyond the mother's status. Casey loves to skate on their home pond, but one day happens into a private skating rink class owned by one-time star skater Tina (Kim Cattrall), a place where Tina relentlessly drives her daughter Gen (Hayden Panettiere) toward winning prizes. Tina's son Teddy (Trevor Blumas - a much underused handsome actor) is always around to keep the ice surfaces smooth with his machine.

Casey observes the brilliance of fine skating, thinks of a way to analyze moves on her computer that will diagnose aerodynamic physics aspects of skating, and once that is perfected, and she is able to aid the skaters with her scientific knowledge, she personalizes her theories. Before long has won a place along with the other aspiring skaters. She encounters resistance from her mother, encouragement from Tina, and friendship from Gen and her fellow skaters as well as the eye of Teddy! When Casey has her Harvard interview, she admits that her real love is for skating, not physics, and commits to pursuing that love full time. The rest is predictable: all's well that end's well.

What sets this little film apart is the quality of acting from Trachtenberg, Cattrall, Cusack and Blumas: they create characters about whom we care. The skating is fun to watch, and the 'sitting in the bleachers rooting for the good guys' feeling is refreshing. This is not a great film but certainly one of the best of this genre. It is most definitely a 'feel good' popcorn movie! Grady Harp

Casey Carlyle (Michelle Trachtenberg, RIP) is a physics genius and a skating lover. She is really good at explaining physics but also graceful at skating. And really good at almost anything. But she has to make a choice. Which one of the two will she choose?

This being a Disney movie shows us the humble beginnings and also the struggles of its main protagonist. In this case, Casey, struggling to please everyone but herself and paying the price for it. She's an excellent student, she leads by example but is she following her hearts desires?

Her relationship with her mother Joan (Joan Cusack) is non-existent and also a bit abusing to an extend. The same applies for her coach, Tina (Kim Cattrall). At least she has friends that she can count on like Ann (Amy Stewart), Gen, who is Tina's daughter (Hayden Panettiere) and Nikki (Kirsten Olson). She also meets her prince charming and also son of Tina, Teddy (Trevor Blumas).

The teachings of this movie are indeed powerful and the magic of the protagonist's determination to see her future through is actually aspiring and wonderful to see. Life doesn't start till you decide what's best for yourself. And then the magic starts to happen.

'Ice Princess' is good. Nothing more, nothing less.

There are enjoyable performances from Michelle Trachtenberg (Casey), Hayden Panettiere (Gen), Kim Cattrall (Tina) and Joan Cusack (Joan - creative!). Even if the latter two's characters are irritating at times, but that is intentional to be fair. There's also an appearance for Erik King, which I guess you could say was a "Surprise!" ...

Props are in order for Christophe Beck, who I thought did a top job with the music - all of which suited events very well. The premise, which entails figure skating, is entertaining enough to see unfold. It's nothing special, but is certainly a harmless and fine production from 2005.

Ice Princess is a fun, lighthearted movie with a simple but engaging plot. It follows a classic underdog story, making it easy to root for the main character. While the storyline isn't groundbreaking, it works well for a family-friendly film, keeping things straightforward without unnecessary drama. The directing is solid, balancing the emotional moments with the sports aspects, and the pacing keeps things moving without dragging. The cinematography captures the elegance of figure skating, making the performances visually appealing, even if some scenes feel a bit predictable.

Michelle Trachtenberg delivers a strong performance, carrying the movie with ease. She makes the character relatable, and her acting adds depth to the story. The supporting cast does a good job as well, though no one really steals the spotlight from her. The script is decent, with natural dialogue that fits the tone of the film. The music and sound design complement the skating sequences, adding energy where needed. Overall, it is an enjoyable and well-put-together movie that makes for a great watch, especially for a casual family night. Michelle Trachtenberg's presence, both on and off screen, was exceptional. She will be deeply missed.

Nothing out of the ordinary in this film but you don't always need something extraordinary to get a good feeling,and thats what you got from this movie... The movie is about a science geek girl who discovers laten skills in figureskating.I'm not that interested in either one but the thing that made me feel for the character was the joy and enthusiasm for skating. For me the a film gets minus points according to the irritation factor,and in this film though quite unusual there wasn't many irritating oversentimentalities. And you couldn't help falling in love with the girl in the lead role...;) recommend it for anyone who likes basic drama with a hint of comedy...