WHIP IT

WHIP IT CRACKING GOOD FILM

"Whip It" was written by Shauna Cross, a former Roller Derby skater with the Los Angeles Derby Dolls. Cross skated under the name Maggie Mayhem with a team of rouge cops called the Sirens. Many of the teams, skaters, names and plot lines were inspired by Cross' time with the Derby Dolls. IMDB

Whip It is Drew Barrymore's directorial debut and she does a damn fine job. Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page) is a Texas debutant who doesn't quite fit into the pagent circuit to the dismay of her mother. She pretty much plain old doesn't fit anywhere until she discovers roller derby.

Pash: [On going to Austin, TX alone] But you don't have the balls.

Bliss Cavendar: I can grow the balls...

You can see the spark in her eye as she watches these girls skating carefree and ready for action. These are the original rrriot girrls. They are tough, foul mouthed and have colored hair. However, some of them are also mothers and have "normal" jobs and use roller derby to express themselves. Kristen Wiig is authentic and real. Drew Barrymore is tough and fun as is the rest of the supporting cast. Jimmy Fallon is smart mouthed and funny as the derby announcer and Andrew Wilson makes for a great coach of the Hurl Scouts team. Have to mention Marcia Gay Harden as Cavendar's tough as nails mother. Loved Juilette Lewis as Iron Maven, Cavendar's nemisis. If ever there was a great role for her, this would be it. Page was born to play this role and is totally believable and has the heart, soul and guts. The food fight scene was especially entertaining and you know the actors had fun doing it. It is a real feel good film and has a positive and uplifting ending. If I could I would make this required watching for all young girls. I loved this film.
Big bite: Loved this film from writing, directing and acting to entertainment value. Great!


BONUS: The soundtrack for Whip It totally carried the spirit of the film with it and in fine form reminds you of the film and the pro-girl, kick ass feeling.