Whip It: Be Your Own Hero

** Thursday, October 8th, 2009 **
**Member Review of the Day on RottenTomatoes.com!**
(I made the Homepage!)

Based on former Roller Derby skater Shauna Cross' experiences with the Los Angeles Derby Dolls, Whip It is a one part coming-of-age story/two parts fresh indie-style comedy and all fun! The film marks Drew Barrymore's feature film directorial debut, and what better way to start off directing than with an action-packed sports film, 80's nostalgia, finding yourself, the current indie 'It' girl and some famous faces?

Ellen Page begins the movie as Bliss Cavendar, the glasses-clad doe-eyed small town Texan gal lusting after the bustling metropolis just seemingly beyond her grasp. After perhaps one too many failed attempts being forced into participating in beauty pageants thanks to her overbearing mother (played by Marcia Gay Harden), an innocent shopping trip in Austin introduces her to Roller Derby world - via flyer. Worried that she may actually end up in the Southern throwback world of big hair, ironing boards and answering the questions she'd rather live out -- she grabs her best friend Pash (Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat) and they sneak off to Austin to see the Derby's Exhibition night. Impassioned by the derby girls, and invited to try out - she begins her journey as Babe Ruthless, the newest and fastest jammer on the block. If you don't know anything about Roller Derby - it's fine - you take the journey with Bliss as she learns the who, what, when, where and why of the game, the people and the life of a Derby Doll.

The film follows a fairly straightforward path of most sports movies (and that is my only complaint) - it leads up to the 'big event', the character has strife and is left to her own devices - but it makes up for it in comedy and heart. Though there are rules and it is a sport, they don't dwell too long on that - instead opting for the action, showing that women are all badasses ... in fishnets!

Author Cross skated under the name of Maggie Mayhem -- who is played by Kristen Wiig in one of her most prominent roles to date. She is fantastic as she takes Bliss under her wing without losing any edge. Juliette Lewis pulled out her rockstar roots (check out Juliette and the Licks) as Iron Maven - the resident bad girl who wears her bruised self inside out. Drew Barrymore's Smashley Simpson is a bit of a space cadet who laughs, gets confused a bit too easily and is ultra rough and competative -- both in the rink and out. The Manson Sisters were played by Rachel Piplica and Kristen Adolfi - better known as the real-life Iron Maiven and Krissy Krash of the Los Angeles Derby Dolls. They skated for the film's Hurl Scouts and in real life skate for the Tough Cookies, the team on which the Scouts were based.