...may have a preposterous premise, but it should appeal to the same mother/daughter audience that flocked to the similarly titled "Diaries."
Ice Princess (2005)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:100
Fresh:52
Rotten:48
Average Rating:5.6/10
Consensus: This likable Disney film gets points for effort, but can't stick the landing when it comes to originality.
Theatrical Release:Mar 18, 2005 Wide
Box Office: $24,381,334
Synopsis: A teen misfit who never thought she'd fit in discovers her personal edge when she risks it all to pursue her dreams of figure skating, in Disney's inspirational family comedy, ICE PRINCESS. Rising... A teen misfit who never thought she'd fit in discovers her personal edge when she risks it all to pursue her dreams of figure skating, in Disney's inspirational family comedy, ICE PRINCESS. Rising star Michelle Trachtenberg ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "EuroTrip") stars as Casey Carlyle, the brainy bookworm who gives up a life devoted to schoolwork for a thrilling new world of axels, sit spins, best friends, boyfriends and cutthroat competition as she finds herself in the unlikely position of skating for gold. Daring to attempt what she thought was impossible, the once shy and awkward Casey discovers how to literally take flight. Casey is just trying to please her hard-working single mom (JOAN CUSACK), who's got her daughter on the fast track to Harvard, when she decides to do a report on the physics of figure skating. Having fantasized on her backyard pond about becoming an Olympic champion since she was a little girl, Casey is ecstatic, and nervous, to finally have a chance to meet the elite skaters at her local rink. What she doesn't know is that her whole existence is about to be sent for a wild spin when it turns out that Casey's smarts have helped her become a skating prodigy. Now, as she gets the chance to train with champion-in-the-making Gen Harwood (HAYDEN PANETTIERE) and Gen's famously tough coach and mother, Tina (KIM CATTRALL), Casey sets off on a fun, comedic and life-changing adventure that takes her into a world she never expected to experience. Not only does she get a crash course in the glamour, sweat and tears of skating competitions, she also gets her first taste of romance as she falls for Gen's teenage brother, the rink's hunky Zamboni driver, Teddy (TREVOR BLUMAS). As she trains with gritty determination, Casey's confidence begins to soar—but with the big championship looming, she is about to find out if she really has what it takes to leave her old life behind and truly become an ICE PRINCESS. Actors become skaters and skaters become actors in ICE PRINCESS, as Michelle Trachtenberg and Hayden Panettiere are joined on screen by such world-class athletes as five-time World Figure Skating Champion Michelle Kwan and Olympic Gold Medalist Brian Boitano in cameo roles. Walt Disney Pictures presents ICE PRINCESS, directed by Tim Fywell ("I Capture the Castle") from a screenplay by Hadley Davis based on a story by Meg Cabot ("The Princess Diaries") and Davis. Bridget Johnson produces. Karen Glass and Kristin Burr oversaw production for Walt Disney Studios. William W. Wilson III is the executive producer. -- © Walt Disney Pictures [More]
Starring: Michelle Trachtenberg, Kim Cattrall, Joan Cusack, Hayden Panettiere
Starring: Michelle Trachtenberg, Kim Cattrall, Joan Cusack, Hayden Panettiere, Trevor Blumas
Director: Tim Fywell
Director: Tim Fywell
Story: Hadley Davis
Screenwriter: Hadley Davis
Producer: Bridget Johnson
Composer: Christophe Beck
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures
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Release:
Jul 19, 2005
Reviews for Ice Princess
This tweener fantasy of athletic glory frantically tries to balance a decent sense of values against a market-savvy awareness.
The only thing wrong with Ice Princess is that I am not enough of a 14-year-old girl to appreciate it.
Ice Princess sticks closely to the mold of other sports flicks, but there is a tenderness and refreshing lack of compromise assembled from its spare parts.
A film about teens discovering and pursuing their dreams. It's an oldie but a goodie as far as film ideas go.
The delight of Ice Princess is that there's more to every character than meets the eye.
the nicest surprise is that after a spate of "mean girl" movies, this one gives us a character who competes with Casey but is honest, loyal, and supportive.
Trite but nice, this enjoyable comedy-drama has good-spirited warmth toward almost all its characters.
Falls on its butt as often as it lands a perfect turn, but its perseverance ultimately pays off with a win not only for the film, but the audience as well.
This follow-your-bliss charmer treats female achievement with such grace and seriousness, one almost forgives the malice of its portrayal of single mothers as rabid stage moms.
Pre-teen girls may very well enjoy 'Ice Princess,' but as I don't belong to that particular demographic, it pretty much left me cold.
The movie carries out its generic, almost ritualized narrative with honest sentiment and engaging warmth.
If Casey is such a physics whiz, why couldn’t she have whipped up a formula for a better movie?
The figure-skating sequences thud instead of zing, as though photographed by a hippo in house slippers.
Its required elements merit only a 4.8, but it gets solid 5s for presentation.
The characters have a depth that is missing in most clichéd sports films.
Wanting to skate doesn't mean Casey can't go to Harvard -- or, God forbid, defer a year or two. But the movie overlooks that, choosing instead to try to wring high drama where none naturally exists.
Might have better served the young girls who will love it, and their pushy parents, if Casey had been a little less perfect.
Personally, I hope the press notes for Ice Princess will be the only ones this year to include the phrase "hunky zamboni driver," but you just never know.
Latest News for Ice Princess
June 17, 2007:
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Fox scored its first number one hit in five months with "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" which grossed an estimated $57.4M on its opening weekend, tripling... More...
January 16, 2006:
"Buffy" Gal to Have a "Black Christmas"
The lovely Ms. Michelle Trachtenberg, last seen as an "Ice Princess" and best known for her work on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," has signed to star in Glen... More...
November 17, 2005:
Oh It's Already Been Broughten (Part 3)
A fresh press release from Universal informs us that there will soon be a "Bring It On 3" to enjoy, but also reminds us that, hey yeah, there WAS a direct-to-video... More...
April 20, 2005:
Cusack and Peet Have a Favorite "Martian"
Described by The Hollywood Reporter as "a cross between E.T. and Parenthood" is the upcoming family film "The Martian Child." John Cusack ("High... More...
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