Whip It

source: Whip It

There are no bad movies containing "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" on the soundtrack and "Whip It" is no exception. Drew Barrymore, in her directorial debut, has done everything right, right down to correctly showing that roller derby matches are attended by a few hundred fans in some warehouse, not thousands in an arena. Ellen Page, as the awkward outsider Bliss who finds her inner warrior (her nom de guerre is Babe Ruthless) on the derby track, is luminous. Barrymore's camera is in love with this young actress' incredibly expressive face. "Hard Candy," "Juno" and now this. Is there anything this 22-year-old Canadian sparkplug cannot do? The script also does everything right and gives us characters that make sense. Bliss' mom, played by Marcia Gay Hardin, disapproves of her daughter's choice of extracurricular activity, but is just a worried mom, not some harridan. Her dad, played by Daniel Stern, is henpecked, but ends up taking his daughter's side. Also, it's broadly hinted that mom and dad are not estranged in the bedroom. Barrymore, who plays a member of the team, could easily have put herself out front, but chooses to stay in the background. SNL's Kristen Wiig is tough as nails on the track, but is also a single mom. And there's grinning Zoe Bell, recently seen flopping on a car hood in "Death Proof." "Casablanca" was churned out as just another studio product when it was made, but certain stars come into alignment — script, cast, direction, etc., and a classic was born. "Whip It" is not in that league, but the same principle applies. Fox Searchlight Pictures was a studio firing on all cylinders when it made "Whip It."

I went into this movie with rather high expectations. Ellen Page delivers yet another stunning performance as Bliss Cadaver, and Drew Barrymore proves herself well worthy of the title of director. Marcia Gay harden also delivers as Bliss's overbearing mother. The film is thoroughly enjoyable to watch, at the same time it is raw, emotional, and real. The cinematography during the roller derby scenes is spectacular, done in such a way that you can really feel the emotion of the sport. The movie very definitely does not disappoint. i fully expect best picture/director nods for Barrymore, as well as best a best actress nod for Ellen page, and a best supporting actress nod foe Marcia gay harden. all in all this a wonderful film, and is one of the years few must see movies. it is a wonderful story beautifully executed at the hands of Drew Barrymore. I give it a 10/10.

I really wanted to like this movie. Things I liked: Andrew Wilson, Juliet Lewis, "Cousin Maebe," Marcia Gay Hardin, Kristin Wiig, and Drew Barrymore. Andrew Wilson, the brother of Luke and Owen, is HOT. The whole movie, I was thinking, "Who IS this guy??" He acts well, too. LOVE Juliet Lewis. She wasn't too famous to be seen all greasy and trashy. I usually can't stand Marcia Gay Harden (except for her cameo in Law and Order, Criminal Intent), but I loved her in this. She is very believable in her mail carrier's uniform. I like the choice of Landen Pigg as the first love. Nobody's first boyfriend is a confident hunk. Your first love is always a skinny, awkward, average-looking guy. I loved the funny names of the skaters. Things I didn't like: Much like Arnold, Sylvester Stallone, or Tom Cruise, Ellen Page plays the same character in every movie. The I'm too smart for you precocious teenager ("I'm from the bustling metropolis of Bolene, Texas.") Why didn't she have a Texan accent? Ellen's character is supposed to be a super fast skater, but Ellen Page can NOT skate! She looked like she was about to fall down in every skating scene. The food fight scene and underwater scene were completely gratuitous. The underwater love scene seemed like it was done just so they could say, "Hey. This is the first completely underwater love scene in history." It was completely unromantic. So much time was wasted on stupid stuff that could have been better used. Eve plays the token black who doesn't get any lines.

Drew Barrymore created a stunning film with Shauna Cross's script, and you would never know it was her first time directing. The characters and story are so well crafted and there's never a dull moment. I love the way this movie feels nostalgic and makes you remember that time in your life where you're trying to figure out who you are, and you have that one best friend that gets you through the tough times. I'm impressed by the actresses' skating abilities and making this all look so natural to them. Marcia Gay Harden is total perfection as Bliss Cavendar's mother, bringing such a realness to her character, and Ellen Page and Alia Shawkat have realistic chemistry that pulls you into their friendship. This isn't a raunchy movie and I find it totally enjoyable. I can watch this movie over and over and I never get sick of it - it's become a classic for sure!

When drama is rushed it can feel like the slowest thing in the world. The characters never get any time to breathe. The turmoil that they go through feels so compact, tidy, and meager that it's like your watching nothing at all. The quest for life's answers in the "missunderstood teenager" way, with the mandatory pushy mother and the quiet but understanding father seems like a subject done before. This movie is way too bland, stale, and unbelievable to really find the heart. I compare it to Bend it like Beckham, but without the good, funny or interesting parts. I liked the idea of this film, it had potential. Ellen Paige is great, as always, but the rest of the cast could have been exchanged for puppets and no on would have been able to tell the difference. I thought the ending too obvious and forced compared to the rest of it, and needed a more inspired and extended premise and execution for fullest success. It seemed rushed and inconsistent with the buildup to it. The movie is, too be frank, about a bunch of girl riding around in circles on rollerskating. And just as exiting as that sounds.

Greetings again from the darkness. Disappointing, yet entertaining film version of the Shauna Cross novel brought to us by first time director Drew Barrymore. I say disappointing because it really looks like they filmed the rough draft of the screenplay. It could have been so much more with a little effort and work on the script. Entertaining for all the other reasons! First, this is Ellen Page's film ... she not only carries the Hurl Scouts into the championship game, she also carries most every scene in the film. She gets some nice support work from Alia Shawkat as her best friend Pash, as well as the lost Wilson brother, Andrew, who makes for a very interesting Roller Derby coach! Marcia Gay Harden and Daniel Stern star as Page's mismatched parents. Harden is the one time beauty pageant queen pushing her daughter that direction, while Stern is the sports loving dad seemingly stuck with two daughters and a very controlling wife. Nice to see stuntwoman supreme Zoe Bell get another real acting gig after stealing Tarantino's Death Proof, and Juliette Lewis really chomps down on her role as the jealous oldtimer in the league. Sadly Kristen Wiig has little to do here and Jimmy Fallon is just way over the top as the ring announcer. Singer Landon Pigg has an odd turn as Page's first love interest - mostly wasted screen time that could have been better spent. Would have really enjoyed a bit more character development as there are certainly no shortage of potential jackpots. Stay for the end and check out the credits ... not sure I have ever seen more individual songs in one film.

I am a big fan of Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore and Alia Shawkat. Naturally I had high hopes that this would be a unique, quirky, indie and generally good movie. What a let down! Here are the stupid things about this movie: * endless spirals of clichés including conservative "50's housewife", reconciling food fight, indie boy-crush in band, beauty pageant queen turned roller derby star and mother turning up to championship against all odds (not) * nerdy twig of a girl asked to join a roller-derby team * G rated underage, underwater sex scene SANS condom NOT compelling!! no no no

I thought it was one of the very worst movies I've ever seen in my life. The writing was sophomoric, the directing was really poor, and some of the acting was poor too. Ellen Page was fabulous, as always, but even she couldn't pull this one out of the toilet. It was laughingly bad. The plot was weak to begin with, but the weakness was compounded by really dumb plot devices added willy-nilly throughout the movie. A fire marshal? Really? Her friend just up and kisses Birdman, out of the blue? Please. And the swimming pool scene had me howling with laughter at how bad it was. I really thought I was going to like the movie. I love Drew, I love Ellen Page, Juliette Lewis cracks me up, I love Jimmy Fallon, and I was really looking forward to seeing roller derby. Yet even my positive prejudice couldn't save this one. Really really poor job.