Susan Granger’s review of “Ice Princess” (Disney)
Combine the fact that ice-skating is America’s second most popular sport, following pro football, and Disney’s reputation for inspirational family movies, appealing to young and old, and you have an engaging story about two young women who are determined to follow their dreams, even if their visions conflict with the unrealized ambitions of their strong-willed mothers. Urged by her hard-working single mom (Joan Cusack), brainy, awkward Casey Carlyle (Michelle Trachtenberg) is on the fast-track to Harvard, while popular Gen Harwood (Hayden Panettiere) is headed for the national figure skating competitions, coached by her mom (Kim Cattrall), who once had Olympics hopes. Problem is: neither teenager is happy with her life. When Casey’s computerized “physics of figure-skating” project turns her into a prodigy at the local suburban Connecticut rink owned by the Harwoods, she dreams of becoming a champion – while Gen just yearns for normalcy: dating, eating carbs, living an unscheduled life. Faced with taking their fates into their own hands, both girls rebel. Their conflict leaves Casey needing a coach and Gen’s mom needing a talented, dedicated skater. Voila! Need I say more? Both Michelle Trachtenberg and Hayden Panettiere acquit themselves so convincingly on ice that it’s difficult to discern exactly where their body-doubles take over. Of course, having experts like Michelle Kwan and Brian Boitano in cameos lends credence. Kim Cattrall plays against her “Sex and the City” image, as British director Tim Fywell inventively visualizes Hadley Davis’ and Meg Cabot’s formulaic, Cinderella-like fairy tale. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Ice Princess” glides in with a graceful, teen-empowering 6, proving dreams can come true.
