WHIP IT (REVIEW)
Directed,
for the very first time, and starring the wonderful Drew Barrymore, 'Whip It'
is really just a coming of age story disguised as a rough and ready roller derby
expose. Rolling with the punches takes on a whole new meaning.
Bliss
(by name, not by nature), is a 17 year old resident of the tiny Texas town of
Bodeen. It barely registers on the map but she is one of her hometown's most notable
beauty queens. As played by Ellen Page (Juno), Bliss is another crowning achievement
from the remarkable actress.
Her mother (Marcia Gay Harden)
is keen for her to win every pageant possible but for Bliss, it is just a ritualistic
form of torture. Restless, frustrated and winding her non glamour parading hours
away working in the local diner, Bliss wants out. She spots some rowdy roller
skating girls handing out flyers to a derby in the city of Austin and after taking
one with few inhibitions, Bliss and her brazen friend Pash, sneak out to see what
it's all about. After only one night, Bliss is swooning with envy over the sheer
excitement, power, retro outfits and crazy nicknames for the girls on the team.
Upon
returning home, Bliss pulls out her old Barbie Doll skates and decides to try
out for the team, appropriately named 'Hurl Scouts'. Lying about her age (apparently
no minors allowed), she becomes an instant hit with her new found friends, dropping
Bliss to name her Babe Ruthless.
Ellen Page as Bliss is frightened
at first, weary and negative to confrontation. This soon all changes when 'finding'
herself. For some time, Bliss is competing in these rumbling roller derby's without
her parents prior knowledge, but when they do find out, her mother and father
share different views indeed.
Drew Barrymore shows opulent
rhythm with her directional debut, also starring as teammate Smashley Simpson.
Girl Power is a binding and common element to the story, life crises and familiar
compromise are brought up in regular intervals.
The great Juliette
Lewis plays Iron Maven, leader of the evil opposition, while other outlandish
character names for the roller girls include, Princess Slayer, Maggie Mayhem and
Eva Destruction. Watch for talk show host Jimmy Fallon as the off the cuff ring
announcer and New Zealand stuntwoman, Zoe Bell (brilliant in Quentin Tarantino's
'Death Proof') as fellow roller girl and confident Hurl Scout known as Bloody
Holly.
'Whip It' also has a lively soundtrack to match the
bursting energy. Based on the novel by Shauna Cross, she also wrote the screenplay
based on actual experiences. I highly recommend this movie - sweet natured one
minute, brutal the next - for an entertaining two hours into a world where dreamers
dare to believe.
FOOTNOTE: 'Whip It' would have made a better
3D film than the recently released formulaic 'Final Destination'.
Shane
A. Bassett
