Skating to New York Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Skating to New York Blu-ray Movie Review

Skate by me.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 16, 2015

American sports fans may be obsessive, especially when it gets to events like the World Series, Super Bowl or NCAA Final Four, but even the most diehard devotee may not live sports the way a small Canadian town does with hockey in the genial if ultimately lightweight Skating to New York. The film centers on a quintet of young Canadian teen boys whose lives revolve around hockey, something that their team’s losing streak makes emotionally difficult. Adding to the difficulties are various foibles of two of the boys’ parents, with one married couple seemingly on the verge of splitting up and another father actually urging his son on to in game violence to prove that he’s not a “pussy.”

Skating to New York is the first feature film directed by cinematographer Charles Minsky (Pretty Woman), with a screenplay by Monte Merrick (Memphis Belle) culled from a novella by Edmond Stevens. The film plays out like Stand By Me on skates, as the five kids decide to ditch their cloistered town and skate across a frozen Lake Ontario to New York. It’s a kind of silly premise, but one which allows Minsky the opportunity to capture a lot of gorgeous ice covered beauty while dealing with the various tribulations of the various kids as they make their trek southward. The film has some nice performances (Connor Jessup is especially good as the son of the feuding parents) and a certain stark beauty, but by the time the kids are accosted by a smuggler in a pickup, the narrative tips over into absurdity and away from the heartfelt sincerity that colors the bulk of the rest of the film.

Skating to New York Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Skating to New York is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Well Go USA with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. This is a somewhat flat looking presentation, a tendency that is probably only exacerbated by the fact that so much of the frame is so totally immersed in an almost blinding white a lot of the time. That said, contrast is strong, and the incremental tonal variances in the snow and ice are visible, if subtle at times. Close-ups reveal commendable fine detail, but Minsky tends to favor wide shots that show the awesome vistas the kids are moving through. Depth of field is excellent in these many shots. Sharpness and clarity are well above average and there are no major compression artifacts other than some minor banding in the lightest gradients.

Skating to New York Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Skating to New York's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track bursts into life in some of the bookending hockey segments, sequences which offer some thudding LFE and a rather interestingly percussive score from the iconic Dave Grusin. Dialogue is very cleanly presented and the bare, wind strewn ambient environmental effects also waft through the surrounds quite vividly.

Skating to New York Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer (1080p; 1:45)

Skating to New York Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Skate by Me has a fascinating premise and a group of kids one wants to root for. Unfortunately, by the time one of the kids inevitably plummets through the ice, it's obvious that this film is having a hard time keeping its head above the frigid water. Still, there's quite a bit here to enjoy, including the unusual setting and some good performances by the young cast. Technical merits are strong, and with caveats noted, Skating to New York comes Recommended.