I went to see Whip It this past weekend, and I have to say it was a most enjoyable night out at the movies. I am an unabashed Ellen Page fan (I've rattled on at length about her elsewhere in this blog), and I'm also a big fan of Drew Barrymore, so this was a combination I had to see for myself. I was also eager to see the results of Drew's first stint in the director's chair.
I'll say right off the top that the movie was big fun. The casting was near perfect, and the sheer jubilant energy of the film was infectious. This was a great ride, and I buckled up and let it sweep me away.
There was a bit of "formula" lurking around the edges of the film, but not so much that it detracted from my enjoyment of it. The main premise is a bit typical: Our protagonist (Ellen Page as Bliss Cavendar) discovers a heretofore unknown passion (roller derby), which of course is frowned upon by her nearest and dearest (her parents). It's also an "underdog" story, in that Bliss is a newcomer to the sport and the team she joins is the worst in the league. I will give Barrymore and team kudos, however, in that they did depart from cliché at a couple of crucial spots and made what could have been true formula into more of a concoction. Read the rest of this entry »
