Dvd
Whip It
In Bodeen, Texas, an indie-rock loving misfit (Ellen Page) finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin.
Whip It marks the directing debut of Drew Barrymore, who also stars.
Starring Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis, Alia Shawkat, Kristen Wiig, Marcia Gay Harden, Zoe Bell
Directed by Drew Barrymore (directorial debut)
Written by Shauna Cross (based on her novel)
Sport, Drama, Comedy, Adaptation | 1hr 51mins | Rated (M) | contains offensive language and sexual references | Origin: USA
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The Talk
9 votes / No comments
Flicks review
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4
Drew Barrymore’s bruiser of a directorial debut is a hugely entertaining, feel-good hit. You’ll be cheering for Ellen Page’s plucky ‘Babe Ruthless’ as she hooks up with a roller derby squad, enjoys a bit of romance and high-fives her best buddies.
On the surface the film is structured much like Bend It Like Beckham and features the same central struggle about a daughter following her sporting dreams despite an unimpressed parent. Just swap soccer boots for skates.
But Whip It stakes out its own identity with empathetic characters and wonderfully subtle performances, particularly from Marcia Gay Harden as a hard-to-win-over mother. And it’s great to see some more of Andrew Wilson (Owen and Luke’s brother) as the lackadaisical coach.
The scenes of the sport itself are filmed with enough variation and vitality to keep things exciting; no small feat for what is essentially rolling around in circles. All set to the beat of a comprehensive indie rock soundtrack with everyone from Peaches to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.
Barrymore’s brilliantly-cast roller romp is a great promo reel for the roller derby movement. Expect sign-ups all over the country after this.
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The people's reviews
7 reviews
Press Reviews
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Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
An unreasonably entertaining movie, causing you perhaps to revise your notions about women's Roller Derby, assuming you have any.
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Hollywood Reporter
Clicks on so many levels -- heartwarming family story, rough-and-tumble display of grrrl power and a secondary but tender and convincing romance.
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Los Angeles Times
What makes Whip It a blast is the action in the rink. What gives Whip It heart is the pathos, pain and mettle-testing elements that accompany any serious athletic competition. It doesn't hurt that its diminutive star is surprisingly athletic and agile on the track.
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NZ Herald (Francesca Rudkin)
4
You know where it's going, and you've seen these characters before, but it's a moving little flick full of feisty fun.
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Rolling Stone (USA)
At moments, especially in the conflicted intimacy between Marcia Gay Harden and Daniel Stern as Bliss' parents, Barrymore shows real directing chops. But in Whip It she's painting inside the box.
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TV3 (Kate Rodger)
3
While the story itself is a trifle clichéd and not particularly inventive, the roller derby backdrop is fresh and the performances good, lifting Whip It well above above the mundane.
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Variety (USA)
Laced with good-natured hipster kitsch and endearingly goofy girl power, director Drew Barrymore's roller-derby dramedy, Whip It, is a gas.
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