Whip It is a 2009 comedy-drama film written by Shauna Cross, based on Cross's novel Derby Girl. The film is directed by Drew Barrymore in her directorial debut. It stars Ellen Page as a teenager from a small town who joins a roller derby team.
The film received generally positive reviews from critics but was a disappointment commercially.
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Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:03 pm
Libs
Sbil
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 3:38 pm Posts: 48626 Location: Arlington, VA
Re: Whip It
A feel good film to the max, Whip It is conventional but very entertaining and likable. Drew Barrymore makes an impressive splash as first-time director. She's not trying to make a riveting film meant to inspire debate, but instead wants to make a movie which entertains and provides a good time, which she succeeds at. Ellen Page further demonstrates her acting ability with her first film since Juno; the character of Bliss is nothing at all like Juno (i.e. she's not a precocious hipster) and Page makes her sympathetic and believable. Marcia Gay Harden is superb as Bliss' overprotective mom, Daniel Stern makes a rare film appearance and does it well, Kristen Wiig is awesome as a roller derby confidante, Juliette Lewis isn't annoying for once, Alia Shawkat is delightful as Bliss' best friend, and Barrymore herself is amusing in a smaller role. Whip It follows a fairly strict formula (despite the roller derby premise, which I've never seen before) but it's goofy and endearing. B+
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2004 1:53 pm Posts: 8626 Location: Syracuse, NY
Re: Whip It
8/10 (B+)
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Fri Oct 02, 2009 11:19 pm
Johnny Dollar
The Lubitsch Touch
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:48 pm Posts: 11019
Re: Whip It
Lethargic. Formulaic. but it has no panache to balance it out. Once it starts, you're just kind of waiting for it to end.
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Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:44 am
Bradley Witherberry
Extraordinary
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 1:13 pm Posts: 15197 Location: Planet Xatar
Re: Whip It
What a movie!?!?!
The first half was a propulsive hilarious melodrama with the accent on grrrrrrrrlllll power - - I loved it!!!
...then the wheels come off - - all 80 of them (2 teams x 5 players x 8 wheels)...
The second half was a limp barely chuckleworthy melodrama with the accent on schhhmmmck power - - I hated it!!!
And Ellen Page was seriously creeping me out in this movie (...except, of course, for that underwater love scene).
The supporting actors were great, especially Drew herself, Andrew Wilson as Razor, the everlovin' Kristen Wiig, Juliette Lewis - - scary as ever, plus Marcia Gay Harden and Daniel Stern as Mom & Dad, and many more excellent small character performances...
But unless you exercise your iron will and walk out of the theatre at the halfway point, I can't recommend Whip It at all. Blech!
First half = out of
Second half = out of
Overall final rating = out of
Sun Oct 04, 2009 12:58 am
Magic Mike
Wallflower
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 4:53 am Posts: 34876 Location: Minnesota
Re: Whip It
A really cool, fun girl power flick. Ellen Page was very good and charming in the lead, and the always great Kristen Wiig was wonderful in her best film role yet. The basic story has been done before, but it's effectively pulled off yet again here.
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out of 