Whip It

Image Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Entertainment
Image Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Entertainment

When I sat down to watch Whip It, I don’t think I knew what to expect. I knew it was directed by Drew Barrymore, who I think is fabulous on so many levels, and I knew it starred Ellen Page, who is incredibly talented. I also knew it had a quirky soundtrack and a plotline that involved women’s roller derby. All of these things are true, but it also involves the complicated relationship between mother and daughter, and the importance of staying true to your self.

Imagine a teen girl, living in east-nowhere (Bodeen) Texas. She doesn’t fit in at school, doesn’t have a lot of friends and can’t seem to stay out of trouble. She’s got a perfect little sister, a father who seems to wish he had boys instead and a mother who thinks that beauty pageants are her path to a successful future. This is the world of Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page).

From there, Bliss embarks on a journey of self-discovery. She transforms herself into roller derby superstar Babe Ruthless and falls in love for the first time. When her new world (and confidence) come crashing down, Bliss has to decide if she’s going to stay true to herself, or try to please the others in in her life.

I have to say that I simply loved this movie. Bliss is a positive female character who isn’t willing to compromise in life. I love the relationship that evolves between mother and daughter and the strength of the women in the roller derby community. It’s also nice to see a movie that reflects the strong bonds of friendship that women develop. The only thing I didn’t like was the Drew Barrymore took on such a minor/uninspiring character in the film.

If you’re looking for a good girl’s night out movie or a gift for a good female friend, Whip It might be just the thing. It’s got plenty of humor, action, drama and romance to make everyone happy.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of Whip It from 20th Century Fox Entertainment. There was no promise of a positive review and the opinions and ideas stated in this blog post are mine.

One Response to Whip It

Leave a reply