It’s been a Robby Benson kind of month for me.  Near legendary for his starring role in the 1975 TV movie Death Be Not Proud, Benson has had a long acting and directing career—culminating recently in the release of the biopic Billy: The Early Years (review of the DVD, which I screened this week, coming soon).

Benson also starred opposite Lynn-Holly Johnson in the original 1978 theatrical release of Ice Castles, in which an aspiring figure skater loses her sight… and is coached through the disability by her boyfriend Nick (Benson).  The film culminates in her return to competitive skating.

Just in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics, Ice Castles has been remade with international-caliber skater Taylor Firth in the lead role (Lexi) and Rob Mayes in the role originated by Robby Benson.  The straight-to-video film, oddly enough, is once again credited to director Donald Wrye and screenwriter Gary L. Baim.  How many times does that happen?

From a production standpoint, Wrye has learned a lot in the last thirty years.  This is a much better-looking film than the original.  The skating sequences—particularly the heroine’s finals-qualifying routine to Stravinksy’s “Firebird Suite”—are exquisitely moving and beautifully choreographed, and the loving photography of the winter Iowa countryside is stunning.  Wrye also coaxes very likable performances out of his protagonists.  (The villains, such as they are, however, leave something to be desired.)

The film also does a nice job of charting Lexi’s rise from fun-loving local skater to national champion-caliber celebrity.  She’s not entirely comfortable with the artificiality and rough-shod coaching, but she is enamored of the glamour.  I was surprised by the authenticity of everything surrounding that part of the story.  The small-town skating rinks actually look like small-town rinks, and haven’t been prettied-up by some over-zealous production designer.  When Lexi’s career finally peaks, her surroundings (including the plush Boston training center) provide a suitable contrast to her humble beginnings.

Unfortunately, the story invests so much energy in this authenticity that Lexi’s character never really comes alive as a person—and the central conflict is established so late in the proceedings that the film’s rising action becomes rushed and perfunctory.  I’m afraid that the skating ultimately trumps the characters and the story.

That’s bad news for film purists—and probably good news for skating fans.  I suspect that the film plays just fine with its target audience.  And that’s just fine with me.

Ice Castles is rated PG for “some mild language.”  Mild indeed.  In the early going, a few “damns” are even dubbed into “darns.”  This is pretty safe family fare.

Courtesy of a national publicist, Greg screened a promotional DVD of Ice Castles.