'Ice Princess' (PG)(out of four)

Despite its many skating jumps, routines and competitions, "Ice Princess" is not a sports movie -- and its weaknesses arise in occasionally pretending to be something its not.

Instead, much like last year's football film "Friday Night Lights," "Princess" is not about the sport but about the mayhem that surrounds the sport, and the disparity between those who play and those who watch.

In "Ice Princess," the player is Casey Carlyle (Michelle Trachtenberg), a self-described "science nerd" who one day decides to pursue an ambitious science project in which she will create an algorithm that will determine the perfect way to ice skate. In the process of pursuing the project, she befriends the popular Gen (Hayden Panettiere), Gen's cute brother Teddy (Trevor Blumas), and her forceful mother/trainer Tina (Kim Cattrall).

Putting her theory into practice, Casey tries skating one day and realizes that her math is flawless. In fact, she soon discovers she is an even better skater than the workaholics she has been observing for weeks on end.

But the more affecting and memorable story here is not one of ice skating or competition, but of the universal subject of respect.

Over time it becomes obvious that no one quite recognizes or respects Casey. Gen sees her as too nerdy. Teddy seems interested but keeps his distance. Tina writes her off as a brainiac that can't give the needed commitment to become a successful skater. And most importantly, Casey's feminist mother, Joan (Joan Cusack), doesn't respect her daughter's passions, considering ice skating to be far too frivolous and degrading.

The film's major subplots, involving Casey and Gen's mother, gradually tackle the issues of parents living vicariously through their children. Gen's mother pressures her relentlessly to become a great skater, sacrificing boyfriends, dances, and schoolwork in the process. Casey must go so far as to hide her skating from her mother, who pushes her to be strong, smart and independent, and says that if she ever saw Casey wearing a skater's costume, she'd cry.

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Preview: 'Ice Princess'

There is an emotional depth here that is not present in most sports movies: The inner conflict so many adolescents face in choosing between personal passions and parental pride. And in the hands of Trachtenberg and Panettiere, as the two skaters who feel themselves forced in directions opposed to their hearts' desires, the audience can feel the earnest and heartbreaking pleas of two teenagers who just want a chance to be who they want to be.

This is why, during the film's first low-level competition when Casey takes the ice and is not considered a meaningful contender by anyone, we are right there alongside her. Who can't relate to the notion of wanting to prove themselves and change the minds of all those who dismiss, ignore or count out our passions?

For this one bright, shining moment, Casey has that tangible opportunity to reach for her dreams and become who she wants to be, not who she's "supposed" to be.

It is unfortunate that the film doesn't end there, and that it continues to drive forward with its competitions, feuds and betrayals in a misguided attempt to become an all-out sports film. It is an unneeded twist, and one that starts to strip away the more complex and realistic layers of Casey's personality.

Pretend as it may in its later moments, this is not a sports movie at all, but a touching story about realistic characters striving to find and prove themselves. And perhaps more importantly, it also serves as a revealing social commentary, criticizing a society that too often tells kids who they should be.