Ice Princess (2005)

52% of critics liked it
(103 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(193,465 ratings)

A teenager is torn between her desire to please her mother and following her own ambitions in this family-friendly comedy drama. Casey Carlyle (Michelle Trachtenberg) is a high-school student who has a keen mind for math and looks to be on the fast track to Harvard, which is just the way her mother… More A teenager is torn between her desire to please her mother and following her own ambitions in this family-friendly comedy drama. Casey Carlyle (Michelle Trachtenberg) is a high-school student who has a keen mind for math and looks to be on the fast track to Harvard, which is just the way her mother (Joan Cusack) wants it. However, Casey also has a dream of becoming a competitive ice skater, which is not a popular notion with either Casey's mom or her school's clique of aspiring skaters, led by the egocentric Gen (Hayden Panettiere). However, one day at the rink Casey wins the attention of Tina (Kim Cattrall), a former skating champion who now trains her daughter and is trying to live down an incident that grounded her career on the ice. Tina thinks Casey has what it takes to be a champ, but neither Gen nor Casey's mother are happy with this news, leaving Casey and Tina to go it alone, though Casey soon wins the emotional support of Teddy (Trevor Blumas), Gen's handsome older brother. Ice Princess also features champion skater Michelle Kwan in a small role as herself, doing television commentary at a skating event. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Tim Fywell
Written By: Hadley Davis
Genres: Drama, Kids & Family, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 18, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jul 19, 2005
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

Nick Sylvester, Village Voice
The surprisingly twisty plot skates along with zero friction, giving new meaning to 'Disney on Ice.'
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
There are far too many cringe-inducing clichés and gaping plot holes.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
The movie does have a strong sense of the special charisma and beauty of these young demons of grace who ride the thin line between dance and sport with unerring precision.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Trachtenberg is thoroughly believable, an unspoiled charmer. Her rise from clumsy girl to someone brimming with confidence and the author of one heckuva physics project, she's a pretty cool princess to root for.
Susan Walker, Toronto Star
Watching this week's world figure skating championships in Moscow, one wonders why the scriptwriters went to such artificial lengths. There's drama enough in the sport as it is.
John Anderson, Variety
A savvier movie (and script) might have been able to mix some grays into its black and white palette.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Sweet, inspiring story tween girls will love.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
This dumb-as-a-stump teen girl coming-of-age movie envisions a high school physics geek (Michelle Trachtenberg) who turns into an ice skating pro as a result of her knowledge of physics.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
Pure formula, but nevertheless an enjoyable triple klutz.
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
It's not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but neither is it a sustenance-free afternoon at the Ice Capades
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
A história e a protagonista têm seu charme, mas a direção esquemática de Fywell e o roteiro repleto de clichês praticamente anulam o potencial do filme.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Disney movies haven't moved much beyond the fifties' climate of Ozzie and Harriet. Visiting Ice Princess is like stepping into Pleasantville.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...things are so routine we can guess every action a cliché in advance.
James Plath, Reel.com
An engaging cast and a storyline with surprisingly rich characters and depth give Ice Princess an appeal that goes beyond the target audience.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
..while star Michelle Trachtenberg delivers a sincere, engaging performance, there's not a whole lot here to hold the interest of anyone outside the film's target demographic.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
Hot on the heels of Cadet Kelly and Herbie: Fully Loaded, Ice Princess once again proves that Disney probably loves your tween more than you do.
Vince Koehler, Entertainment Spectrum
Seems like a lot we have seen before, but it is still a good clean movie of finding your dream? Come and find out as she battles with the best.

Read all 17 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Sophie B

Awful kids film. The music is the only thing that gives you any emotion in this film since the acting and narrative is dull.
Brad W

A chick flick that bored the crap out of me. This is not worth anyone time, even with a few good moments in the film.
Cassie H

Such a great movie about following your heart & your dreams. Michelle Trachtenberg was awesome as was the rest of the cast.
Bethany M

I really enjoyed this. I love to watch people ice skate and the love between the two characters was beautiful. A really nice chick flick. A must see!
Spencer S

A cute little film that needed a little momentum. Kattrall was stellar, as was Trachtenberg.
Richard C

D
Thomas B

a film which should have been shut down before production began
Dean M

Young actresses Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Michelle Trachtenberg and Heroes' Hayden Panettiere look so beautiful on their ice skating and this family movie is hilarious and heartwarming comedy of a brainy misfit who finds herself… More
Young actresses Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Michelle Trachtenberg and Heroes' Hayden Panettiere look so beautiful on their ice skating and this family movie is hilarious and heartwarming comedy of a brainy misfit who finds herself transformed beyond her wildest dreams of a winter sport. I'm glad Hayden's character is not a bitch girl in this movie because I like her.
Jennifer X

honestly it deserves a lower rating, but i like watching skating/dancing and the like. and despite the fact that the ice skating wasn't too great (esp that done by trachtenberg, or her stunt double or whatever, can't tell), but all in all, i really like watching figure… More
honestly it deserves a lower rating, but i like watching skating/dancing and the like. and despite the fact that the ice skating wasn't too great (esp that done by trachtenberg, or her stunt double or whatever, can't tell), but all in all, i really like watching figure skating and that's what gives it the extra 1/2 star. acting was shockingly bad and story was cliche. but, i didn't watch this movie with high expectations (even though i was inundated with advertisements a few years ago, quite annoying) so i pretty much got what i expected. and also, this is unrelated, but in the past two years, hayden panettiere has lost a LOOOT of weight.
Jose Z

nice movie, it is entertaining specially for chicks. A cast full of young actresses and actors except for Kim Catrall and Joan Cusack. Mchelle Trachtenberg and Hayden Panettiere are a pair of gorgeous girls, they look really good
Jason S

Ok but she learns how to ice skate with too much ease.
Leigh R

Nice little film.
Sanjaya &

Not bad... I'm pretty shocked how Michelle's can become a great girl... Not as a girl that make-out with her twins brother...
Bradley W

A chick flick that bored the crap out of me. This is not worth anyone time, even with a few good moments in the film.
Dannielle A

Incredible storyline. Very good family movie... not cheesy or teenie-bopperish at all. I enjoyed it very much. Beautiful acting.
Andrew F

Not completely terrible, but nonetheless stupid.
Sylvester K

Great acting from everyone, not completely original and predictable.
Robert F

Corny as it must be, Ice Princess is sustained by Trachtenberg's appealing mix of eagerness and grace.
Marcus W

This film isn't terrible, and Trachtenberg's character is quite interesting with her whole "scientific approach" to skating. Panettiere turns up and is very pink, Cattrall is a bitch and then isn't, Cusack goes from overbearing to bitch to loving mother and… More
This film isn't terrible, and Trachtenberg's character is quite interesting with her whole "scientific approach" to skating. Panettiere turns up and is very pink, Cattrall is a bitch and then isn't, Cusack goes from overbearing to bitch to loving mother and there's a chucked in love interest. I didn't hate it but I really believe you have to be a squealy ten year old girl that loves ice skating and pink to get the full effect of this film.
jason d

i kind of liked this movie? maybe it was just watching trachtenberg do a triple lutz.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Joan Cusack as Joan Carlyle

            Kim Cattrall as Tina Harwood

            Michelle Trachtenberg as Casey Carlyle

            Hayden Panettiere as Gen Harwood

            Trevor Blumas as Teddy Harwood

            Connie Ray as Nikki's Mom

            Kirsten Olson as Nikki

            Juliana Cannarozzo as Zoey Bloch

            Jocelyn Lai as Tiffany

            Brian Boitano as Himself

            Erik King as Chip Healey

            Debbi Wilkes as Zoey's Coach

            Colleen Collins as Lily

            Kevin Jubinville as Reporter

            Mathieu Ledoux as Party Guy

            Martha MacIsaac as Mean Party Girl

            Courtney Hawkrigg as Mean Party Girl

            Andrew T. Mackay as Party Guy

            Steven Ross as Mr. Bast

            Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Tiffany's Dad

            Roy Bradshaw as Tiffany's Coach

            Mark Hird as Nikki's Coach

            Ben Gilbank as Brian

            Thanh Nguyen as Hot Dog Kid

            Cole Campbell as Rink Kid

            Brandon Lajko as Rink Kid

            Jesse Primosig as Rink Kid

            Andrea Tou as Devon

            Jordan Hockley as Jeremy

            Charmaine Hamp as Jeremy's Mom

            Laura Aloisio as Snowplow Sam

            Amanda Leela as Snowplow Sam

            Emma Nielsen as Snowplow Sam

            Melissa Shears as Snowplow Sam

            Kaci Brandt as Snowplow Sam

            Edrea Khong as Snowplow Sam

            Alexandra Najarro as Snowplow Sam

            Chantal Desforge as Harvard Physics Student

            Diego Klattenhoff as Kyle Dayton

            Joey Racki as Zipline Guy

            Mandy Butcher as Mean Party Girl

            Sean Persaud as Dj

            Stephanie Hutchison as Ballet Teacher

            Flo Umphrey as Piano Teacher

            Jennifer Gelfer as Skate Saleswoman

            Shanique Ollivierre-Lake as Chantal Degroat

            Michele Moore as Near-miss Skater

            Signe Ronka as Emma Flanders

            Sean Croft as Joan's Student

            Andrew Dow as Party Guy

            Andrew Butcher as Party Guy

            Knickoy Robinson as Party Guy
See full cast

Photos

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