The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold (Film Review)

2006 MGM Worldwide Television Distribution
Directed by: Sean McNamara; Written by: Dan Berendsen
Starring: Christy Carlson Romano, Ross Thomas, Scott Thompson Baker, Kim Kindrick, and Stepfanie Kramer
MPAA Rating: PG-13; Running Time: 98 Minutes
The Nicsperiment Score: 4/10

Jackie Dorsey, daughter of The Cutting Edge's Doug and Kate, is struggling to live up to her parents' legacy as an Olympic figure skater. She needs a partner, which comes in the form of extreme sports, roller-blading dude bro, Alex. Unfortunately, fancy-pants wearing silver spooner Jackie clashes with her new blue collar partner, and part-time valet, Alex. Will they be able to put their differences aside, and go for the gold?
As much as I love 1992's The Cutting Edge, its 2006 sequel, The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold, rubs me the wrong way. The odd couple in that original film made each other better people. The duo in this sequel somehow make each other worse. In fact, the film makes the mistake of introducing a romantic obstacle suitor for the Alex character who is clearly a better match for him than Jackie is, and yet Going for the Gold also somehow expects the audience to pull for their breakup. There are moments in Going for the Gold that are fun, and the performances by Christy Carlson Romano and Ross Thomas are solid. The movie just doesn't come together. By the end, I was hoping this duo would win their competition, say "Let's just be friends," and skate away.