Whip It

I’ve loved Drew Barrymore since she was hiding in closets with aliens, and I can’t think of a better film for her directorial debut than the quirky, offbeat comedy Whip It. Not only did I attend the film’s pre-screening Tuesday night in Chicago, but I was also lucky enough to watch Barrymore herself introduce it.  The sold-out theater anxiously awaited her arrival as Chicago’s own derby team, the Windy City Rollers, piled into their seats.

I must admit, I knew very little about the sport pre-film.  But as I watched the edgy, tattooed women take their seats, with nicknames like “Ruth Enasia” and “Malice with Chains”, my dreams of becoming a derby girl were quickly crushed.  These gals are bad ass.

When a rushed Barrymore finally arrived, she bounced into the spotlight and gave a brief but heartfelt speech, explaining her hope for the movie – to most of all make us laugh, but also to convey the complexities of family, friends, romantic relationships, and “finding your tribe” in life.  And she succeeds, on all accounts.

Like those that came before, Whip It’s screenplay, adapted from Shauna Cross’ teen novel by the same name, follows the typical sports dramedy plot – an underdog player joins an underdog team, and excited fans watch as the team rises to the top, earning a chance to take on their ultimate rivals in a climactic championship match (complete with “music montage filler scenes” to speed the team’s season along).  Obviously, it’s been done.

But that doesn’t make it any less fun.

Feisty and beautiful, Ellen Page brings the perfect tomboy edge to her role as Bliss Cavendar, an outcast teen who spends her time either waiting tables at the local Bodeen, Texas BBQ restaurant with her best friend, Pash (Alia Shawkat), or entering beauty pageants to please her overprotective mother (Marcia Gay Harden).  Desperate to escape her mundane life in Bodeen, Bliss stumbles upon a roller derby queendom in Austin, Texas and above all odds (probably thanks to her courage, speed, and old Barbie roller skates) lands a spot on the Hurl Scouts.

She quickly perfects a sneaky, double life – Bliss by day, “Babe Ruthless” by night – until her parents find out her secret, causing Bliss and her mother’s complicated relationship to erupt.  On top of that, Pash becomes jealous of Bliss’ new derby family (an all-star lineup, including Kristin Wiig as “Maggie Mayhem”, Juliette Lewis as “Iron Maven”, and Barrymore herself as “Smashley Simpson”).

Whip It has enough action and laughs for everyone: guys will love the competitive energy (not to mention the girls fighting in short skirts), and girls will the love the strong female leads.

The film loses a half star for Landon Piig’s poor acting performance as Oliver, Bliss’ rock band boyfriend (stick to music, Landon – acting’s not your thing), and another half star for Jimmy Fallon’s annoying role as roller derby announcer (casting fail! Fallon is not funny).  But for the most part, Whip It is tasty, colorful fun on a lollipop, injected with Barrymore’s unique, bubbly charisma and sprinkled with Page’s feminist spirit.

For a good time, go see Whip It (rolling into theaters October 2).