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The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing The Dream (2008) DVD Review
The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing The Dream (2008) DVD Credits:
The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing The Dream (2008) Directed by:
Stuart Gillard
The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing The Dream (2008) Written by:
Randall M. Badat Susan Estelle Jansen
The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing The Dream (2008) Cast:
Matt Lanter Francia Raisa Christy Carlson Romano
The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing The Dream (2008) Released by:
MGM
Region:
1
The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing The Dream (2008) DVD Release Date:
31st March 2008
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The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing The Dream (2008) Synopsis:

The Cutting Edge 3 focuses on Zack Conroy (played by Matt Lanter). After his skating partner and former lover, Celeste Mercier, is injured right before a major competition in Miami, Zack has only a few weeks to find a new partner. It is then that he crashes into the least likely candidate, Alex Delgado (Francia Raisa), a figure skater turned hockey player. Zack’s coach wants no part in this new team, so Zack and Alex enlist the help of Jackie Dorsey (Christy Carlson Romano), the daughter of the original Cutting Edge duo. Can Dorsey’s help be enough for the unlikely duo to make it past Miami and win gold at Nationals, defeating their archrivals Bright and Halyard?

The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing The Dream (2008) DVD Review:

It’s been fifteen years since the Cutting Edge, starring D.B. Sweeney and Moira Kelley. Two straight to DVD sequels later, the trilogy has come full circle. Instead of one talented female figure skater pairing up with a rebellious male hockey player, the Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream pulls a gender reversal. Despite the unoriginal plot, the third Cutting Edge is a positive addition to the franchise.

The Cutting Edge 3 focuses on Zack Conroy (played by Matt Lanter). After his skating partner and former lover, Celeste Mercier, is injured right before a major competition in Miami, Zack has only a few weeks to find a new partner. It is then that he crashes into the least likely candidate, Alex Delgado (Francia Raisa), a figure skater turned hockey player. Zack’s coach wants no part in this new team, so Zack and Alex enlist the help of Jackie Dorsey (Christy Carlson Romano), the daughter of the original Cutting Edge duo. Can Dorsey’s help be enough for the unlikely duo to make it past Miami and win gold at Nationals, defeating their archrivals Bright and Halyard?

Even though the film has numerous sequences lifted straight out of the first and second Cutting Edge, it also breaks away from its predecessors. Out of all three, Chasing the Dream has the most plausibility. The stakes are lowered and the characters are given a rich past, producing believable character motivations. The use of hip-hop and current popular music updates the film for this generation, who may be unaware of the original film. Also, unlike the second film, Chasing the Dream changes the editing style for the skating sequences. The focus is on the maneuvers instead of character reactions, and the sequences are much smoother with the use of fades.

There are a few problems that still need to be worked out. The dialogue in the beginning is stilted and unbelievable because it is trying to explain too much information too fast. Also, the skaters in the film are treated like celebrities. Suspension of belief can’t make up for this error, especially when the rest of the film stays so true to the image of figure skating competitions. However, the film gains it’s footing about thirty minutes in, ironically when Christy Carlson Romano’s character is introduced.

Her character of Jackie Dorsey is used to fill the audience in on the events of the past two films. Romano does surprisingly well, especially compared to her performance in the previous film. Supposedly her character is five years older, even though there is only a two-year difference between the two films. Her performance as an older coach feels real not only through her costume, hair, and makeup design, but also by the subtlety of her actions.

Francia Raisa is the other stand out actress in this film. You never once question her character’s actions. Raisa embodies Alexandra Delgado. The character has just enough attitude and spunk, but still remains feminine. It’s a genuine performance rarely seen on straight to DVD films. Matt Lanter has his moments, but the rest of the cast seemed to be cast for their looks, not their acting abilities.

The special features include deleted scenes and a making of the film special. Usually I find the deleted scenes to be prudent choices that were best left on the cutting room floor. However, the film runs only 92 minutes, and a few of scenes are funny enough to belong in the movie. As for the other featurette, don’t watch it before the movie. It contains numerous spoilers, including the ending of the film.

If you enjoyed the original Cutting Edge, I’d recommend skipping to the third in the franchise. It’s a fresh, hip, homage to its predecessors, and does it justice.

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The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing The Dream (2008) DVD review written by: Lyz Reblin

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