excellent. I truly enjoyed this movie, and it was a joy to watch. I shall hope to see it again before it is released on DVD.

every way, and I don't think it possibly could be better, the only complaint I actually do have is the ending kiss between her and the boy, it wasn't romantic at all, if that was a little more romantic I thought that would be perfect.;] Thanks for reading, Krista

Kim Cattral and Joan Cusak play mothers who pressure their daughters into career they seemed all too disappointed about not having achieved. Their daughters, in effect, are stand-ins of their own unfulfilled dreams. Casey, the true focus of the movie is played by Michelle Trachtenberg, as a Harvard-bound physics nerd who aspires to challenge all the planning and hard work to become a world class figure skater. Conversely Gen, played by Hayden Panettiere, is the Cattral prodigy who is forced into the role of apprentice skating champ - chasing her mother's Olympic dreams - the dreams lost when she lost disqualified, as the story goes in Sarajevo - and just wants to be normal. True to the Hollywood/Disney formula there is the perfunctory supportive and accessible 'hunk' who just happens to be Gen's bother in Trevor Blumas. Directed by Tim Fywell and written by Hadley Davis, Ice Princess is a story pegged on the duality of very pushy mothers in Cusak and Cattral whose daughters are being pushed in the direction that runs counter to their dreams.Despite the movie's predictability, the Ice Princess had moments of seriousness almost lapses, actually in the core subject matter of passionate loyalties amidst the cutthroat competitiveness of the figure-skating world. Yes, you will be treated to the attractive figure skating but Fywell is not tempted to push it over the top. Cusack and Cattrall bring a mature complexity to their difficult roles as mothers who are trying to control the raging hormones and resultant attitude. Problematic in some areas, the movie does bring to presence the very important issues of coming of age, parental interference, and long term career planning. Unrealistic at best, to think that after all that was invested, a Harvard bound student not to mention the Olympic bound skater would throw it all away on a one-in-a-million chance at 'true happiness' but we can always live vicariously in this imaginary space - which is why we will continue to be attracted to movies like Ice Princess.Miguel Llora

wonderfully by Joan Cusack whom of course thinks it's just a waste of time. The film is of course a clash of overly obvious clichés but anyone seeing this film should know that already. But these are the clichés that make movies like this truly inspiring and enjoyable. The film is fun, memorable and heart tugging. But the standout addition here is a wonderful performance by the still gorgeous Kim Catrall she's still in mean mode but god can she deliver those lines and still come off likable ultimately. So throwout what cynics will say about this sleeper treat and go experience this gold medal for your selves. 9/10

better than Raise Your Voice, the editing in that was horrible!

it in my mind , the Zamboni driving son of former ice skater turned coach, Tina Harwood. Teddy literally exists to clean the ice so Casey can perfect her skating skills. His potential as a love interest carries through the film, but it's not a focal point. There's much more emphasis placed on the definitions of self and beauty, that strength comes from within, and that smart girls are pretty and CAN excel math. This is not your mother's Disney picture.The overall theme is obviously steeped in feminism. There's a contrast between the old school vibe of smart girls vs. prom queens the mother figures and finding empowerment in the balance Casey's final arc .Smart can be beautiful, beautiful can be strong, and strength can be feminine.

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

of preteen girls to study math and science. Researchers at the University of North Carolina found girls did better in math until age 11. Afterwards cultural conditioning forces them to choose between being popular and pretty or smart and nerdy.The film does follow the classic Disney princess formula - poor young maiden with a heart of gold rebels against her strict mother by running away into the woods. There she meets the wicked witch and Prince Charming.In this case, nearly friendless physics whiz Casey Carlyle ventures into the skating rink for a scholarship project. There she meets the wicked stepmother, ice queen Tina Harwood Kim Cattrall . Since Casey loves to skate but has no money, she soon finds herself doing Cinderella-type chores like running the rink's concession stand while squeezing in cross training with weights and ballet. This leaves little time for studies and puts her in conflict with her vegetarian professor mother Joan Cusak , who dreams of sending her daughter to Harvard.That sets up the inevitable question – will Casey choose Harvard and her mother or skating and her surrogate mother – or can she do both?To its credit, Ice Princess does have many heart warming moments, mainly due to the comedic and dramatic talent of rising star Michelle Trachtenberg. And the big pop score by Radio Disney types like Jesse McCartney and Diana DeGarmo keep things bright.

Maybe a little too soon after Princess Diaries 2, but definitely something I'll buy.