Review of Whip It (2009) by Michael V — 17 Nov 2011

Now this movie is cliched as hell. Dorky but cute girl from a small town wanting something more and doesn't feel comfortable in her surroundings CHECK, pisses off friends and family but in the end patches things up CHECK, underdog team with a new team memeber who makes the difference and ends up duking it out with the best team in the league CHECK.

Yeah nothing really new to this BUT it's an extremely fun ride along the way. The characters feel real and you can relate. A brilliant ensemble cast hitting its stride and functioning perfectly. It was great to see Juliette Lewis again doing what she does best.

Bad ass chick. Kristen Wiig dons a great alternative but still motherly role. Her best yet. Ellen Page (whom looks different to me in every movie I've seen her in wore this role naturally. And then mmmmmm Zoe Bell.

So happy to see her getting more acting roles. Last but least Drew Barrymore who also directed this fun gem who could have easily taken Kristen Wiig's role to give herself more coverage but takes a back seat at in a small supporting role allowing herself to focus on her debut directing efforts.

The colors extremely stand out in this along with sexy costumes that are appropriately over the top. Cinematographery and editing make a perfect team working in sync by reflecting both the slow pace of Page's home life vs.

the secret one that flies on wheels on the rollerderby track. The camera places the you right in the action like a car chase on rollerskates. Another thing I loved was how old this movie felt. Take away the few moments with a cell phone and a modern car and it felt like you were in the '70s the roller derby girls were like The Runaways starting out and fighting for their desire to have a their own piece of a male dominated industry.