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Drew Barrymore has been a fixture in Hollywood since she was a toddler. Since then, she’s survived addiction, rehab, a couple of divorces, and some painful fashion faux pas. She’s also gone from cute child star to troubled teen to chick flick darling to production company head. So, really, it’s no big surprise that she’d eventually try her hand at directing. And she couldn’t have chosen a better first film than the wild-and-crazy, girl-powered coming-of-age comedy, Whip It.
Ellen Page stars as Bliss Cavendar, a mild-mannered teen misfit from the tiny town of Bodeen, Texas. Though her mother (Marcia Gay Harden) dreams of turning her into a beauty queen, Bliss wants nothing more than a one-way ticket out of town.
During a shopping trip to Austin, Bliss picks up a flyer for an upcoming roller derby competition, and she immediately falls in love with the idea of lacing up her skates and fighting her way around the track. Of course, her prim-and-proper mother would never approve, so Bliss lies her way to try-outs. And, once she makes the Hurl Scouts (the worst team in the league), she lies her way to practices, too.
Before long, Bliss is the happiest girl in Bodeen. She’s strong. She’s confident. She’s an up-and-coming roller derby star. She’s even got a cute indie rocker boyfriend (Landon Pigg). But it’s only a matter of time before her lies start catching up to her.
Whip It is my kind of chick flick. Sure, it fits into the usual teen formulas with its tales of friendship, first love, fitting in, and families who just don’t understand. But it’s less about the teen drama and the budding romance than it is about figuring out who you are and going after what you want. It’s fun without being too fluffy, and it’s edgy without being too harsh. It’s a little bit campy, with a retro feel and a great soundtrack. Come to think of it, it’s exactly what you’d expect from Drew Barrymore: the perfect mix of girly, goofy, and gutsy.
The story sometimes feels a bit cluttered with plotlines (and I could have done without the romance with awkward rocker Oliver). But, for the most part, the movie simply revolves around the roller derby (the rules of which, incidentally, are explained in the beginning, so you won’t feel lost). The derby scenes are fast-moving and hard-hitting, with dizzying footage that will make you feel like you’re in the middle of the action. And you’ll leave the theater with an adrenaline rush that’s guaranteed to have you racing home to dig out your old roller skates and search for the nearest roller derby league.
The casting, meanwhile, makes perfect sense. If Hollywood had its own roller derby league, you can bet that women like Barrymore, Eve, Juliette Lewis, Kristen Wiig, and Zoe Bell would be on it. They’d be out there throwing elbows and tripping their opponents—and having a great time doing it.
Every member of the cast (except, strangely enough, Barrymore herself) seems completely natural and relaxed in the role. None of them seem to be trying too hard to be funny…or tough. In fact, Juliette Lewis and Kristen Wiig have never been so much fun to watch. And, once again, Ellen Page is pure bliss as Bliss.
Barrymore’s had plenty of highs and lows throughout her long Hollywood career—but Whip It can definitely be counted as one of the highs. Though it’s not without a minor glitch or two, it’s a solid debut. It’s also a gutsy move in a film industry where surprisingly few women take that step behind the camera. And this chick’s pretty impressed.
Blu-ray Review:
Drew Barrymore’s girl-powered directorial debut is loaded with laughs, love, and hard-hitting roller-derby action—but the two-disc Blu-ray release isn’t exactly loaded with extras. In addition to a digital copy of the film, the set also includes about 20 minutes of deleted/extended scenes (including an alternate opening), a short (30-second) soundtrack sampler, and a clip of the Fox Movie Channel’s Writer’s Draft with screenwriter Shauna Cross. The latter is an interesting (though, again, short) feature, offering a bit of insight into the story—along with a quick snippet or two of behind-the-scenes footage. (But did I mention that it’s really short?)
The biggest surprise on the disc, though, is what’s missing: a commentary track. I thought that the first-time director would be eager to sit down and talk about her experience behind the camera—and I was looking forward to hearing all about it. But, unfortunately, Drew decided to forego the commentary.
Despite its lack of wild-and-crazy extras, though, Whip It is still well worth checking out. Pick up a copy for your next Girls’ Movie Night.
