review for The Cutting Edge on AllMovie

Paul Michael Glaser's formulaic romance sports movie is more entertaining than it has any right to be. The story of a spoiled-princess figure skater partnered with a washed-up, working-class hockey player in hopes of competing for an Olympic doubles title, it works over every cliché about mismatched lovers and long-shot athletes, but still manages to hold one's interest. To the extent that it works, credit must go to stars, Moira Kelly and D.B. Sweeney, who bring a passionate commitment to these stock parts, along with an evident athleticism that must have kept the use of stunt people to a minimum. Veteran stage actor Roy Dotrice and The Stepfather (1987) star Terry O'Quinn also add something distinctive. Glaser moves the story at along brisk pace, the skating routines are well-done, and although the denouement is visible from a distance, one can still admire the professionalism of the film's execution. The film was a modest hit, yet no one involved seems to have benefited but first-time writer Tony Gilroy, who has gone on to a very successful career.