Whip It: Movie Review

Whip It: Movie Review

Rating: 8/10
Cast: Ellen Page, Daniel Stern, Marcia Gay Harden, Alia Shawkat, Zoe Bell, Juliette Lewis, Ari Graynor, Kristen Wiig, Jimmy Fallon
Director: Drew Barrymore
Ellen Page (Juno) stars as Bliss Cavendar, a teen stuck in small town America, desperate to get away from the life of mother inflicted beauty pageants and working in a local diner.
Along with her friend Pash (Alia Shawkat from the much missed comedy Arrested Development) the pair one day stumble upon the world of roller derby - and their eyes are opened.
Bliss decides she will join the local downtown Austin team, The Hurl Scouts, and becomes Babe Ruthless, the team's latest addition.
However, Bliss has to live this life undercover from her parents - but as she begins to blossom, she finds both lives coming sharply into contrast and is forced to make a choice.
Whip It is another great entry into Ellen Page's CV - her star's been on the ascent ever since Juno, and Whip It will do nothing to stop that star continuing to rise.
It's not the most original of stories - small town girl wants to break away from the norm and live her own life - it's all been done before.
But what Drew Barrymore's done with this for her first time behind the lens, is to make the simple soar. Coupled with a killer soundtrack, some quirky lines and some great performances (particularly from Alia Shawkat as Bliss' best friend Pash), Whip It really does suck you in for its entire duration.
While the roller derby plays second fiddle until the final climactic match, the scenes are pumped full of action - as well as aptly monikered competitors (Eva Destruction, Holy Rollers, Smashley Simpson and Maggie Mayhem to name but a few), there's also our very own Zoe Bell as one of the skaters. I have to admit I perhaps would have liked a little more derby action but as an introduction to the sport, it's a hell of a good way to get into it.
There's a simplicity of story with Whip It - it wears the cliche on its sleeve (although the ending is anything but) and thanks to some good solid performances, you will find yourself walking out with a big grin. It manages to nicely capture the frustrations of small town America as well as the desperation of wanting to shine at something rather than a family tradition.

Whip It has heart and soul aplenty - there's an exuberance to this tale of girl power which is not only blessed with some ass kicking but will leave you smiling for days after.