Trading Genders (and Stereotypes) on ‘Ice’

Despite cameos by such real-life Olympic medalists as Elvis Stojko, Nancy Kerrigan and Rosalynn Summers, and an amiable co-starring role for gold medalist Tara Lipinski, “Ice Angel,” Sunday’s uninspired Fox Family Channel movie, skates on thin ice.

Filled with gender stereotypes and glib bromides, it begins when hockey star Matt, who motivates his Olympic-bound team by castigating them for playing like “a bunch of pansies,” dies and comes back as Sarah, a teenage ice-skating champ.

Matt’s second chance at life is due to a bumbling angel (Brendan Beiser), who nailed the wrong target with a hockey puck during a game and the deal is, he gets to pursue his Olympic dreams, albeit as a girl. He can also hang on to his memory as long as he doesn’t contact old friends or family.

So, loutish Matt (Aaron Smolinski) becomes loutish Sarah (gamely played by “The Nanny’s” Nicholle Tom), miraculously recovered from near brain-death after an accident. To show that the 17-year-old Sarah is really a guy, she’s given coarse “guy” things to do: She punches a doctor when she wakes up, craves cigars, burps, sits with legs splayed, dribbles when she drinks and mouths off.

And, of course, her teammates find her much more likable than before, while her coach (Alan Thicke) appreciates her new take-charge attitude. (Her parents’ one-dimensional reaction barely registers.) What are the odds that Sarah will later pump up Matt’s former teammates with the same inspirational “you guys suck” and “pansies” insults, thus inspiring Olympic victory and dewy-eyed remembrance?

Sarah’s inner-Matt learns that “the best way to let go of the past is to confront it head on,” and “you can only paint with the colors you’re given” after an encounter with Matt’s now-pregnant girlfriend; what Matt/Sarah’s future holds, however, is anyone’s guess.

Phil Valentine, Scott Sandin and Rob Kerchner wrote the limited script; George Erschbamer directs.

* “Ice Angel” can be seen Sunday at 8 p.m. on Fox Family Channel. The network has rated it TV-G (suitable for all ages).