Two Incredibily Rotton People

Why "especially Heidi"? From what I recall, Alex and Heidi had already broken up when he and Jackie teamed up. The part of Heidi was characterized as a stereotypically air-headed blonde bimbo who probably got into modeling because she had the body for it and lacked the brains to do much else.

But aside from that, Heidi was also totally lacking anything vaguely resembling tact. She shows up uninvited and unannounced late at night at the Dorseys' home, shacks up with her ex (who is, essentially an invited guest there himself); then has the nerve to make fun of and criticize (and not in a positive, informed, constructive way) their practice session at the rink the next day. Later at the Olympic village, she springs on Jackie about Alex's plans to marry her and retire from skating mere hours before Jackie's main event (that she has spent her entire life preparing) -- either unknowing or uncaring that this could distract Jackie and negatively affect their skating performance. If that wasn't bad enough, she then interjects her cutesy lingerie-clad butt between Jackie and Alex during Jackie's emotional confession at their hotel room door, deliberately giving Jackie the false impression that Alex has rejected her.

By that point, I was despising that character most thoroughly. Did she love Alex? Maybe in her own mind; but her lack of moral scruples, common courtesy and common sense thoroughly scuttled any sympathies I may have felt for her. Not that Alex was any real prize, either, in that department (it always takes two to tango). The only unselfish thing she did was letting Alex go to follow his own heart near the end of the movie.

As for how Jackie and Alex interacted with others and one another, it was pretty evident they both made mistakes -- some of which, in all fairness Jackie had apologized for and attempted to make right. On his part, Alex was too quick to take offense at Jackie's public televised interview, not realizing that Jackie was likely caught off-guard by the question and unsure of her response. Was Jackie spoiled, stubborn and ungrateful at times? You bet -- especially when it came to her relationship with her parents. I think that interacting with Alex was a wake-up call for her, in some ways; because he mirrored some of her less admirable character qualities where she could finally see them on the receiving end! Alex was likewise undisciplined and carried a chip on his shoulder; so the opportunity he found with Jackie to dedicate himself to accomplishing a goal, having to sacrifice to make it happen and learning to follow through was good for him. I especially liked Doug's interactions with him; because (not knowing the characters' backgrounds) I'm guessing he probably didn't have a consistent, reliable father-figure to influence and guide him during his growing-up years.

In the end analysis, the movie itself basically had a workable plot; but the quality of the acting was noticeably substandard, especially during some of the more emotional scenes. They were almost cracking up in parts when they were supposed to be serious (like when Jackie first meets Alex at her parents' rink); which it seems like any competent director would've immediately scrapped and called for a retake.