Whip It
Whip It re-immerses us in the world of women’s roller derby, the roller skating contact sport that fizzled in the 1970’s but apparently is making a resurgence in the cultural watershed of Austin Texas. Canada’s Ellen Page makes another solid career choice (although this one probably won’t garner any Oscar nominations) playing the mousey high school sophomore Bliss Cavendar in the Lone Star State hick town of Bodeen. Despite urgings from her mother Brooke (Marcia Gay Harden) to be a beauty pageant queen Bliss discovers she has the chops (literally) to be a standout in this fairly seedy sport even though she has to lie about her age to do it and competes without her parent’s knowledge. Not only does she find an avocation by strapping wheels on her feet, but she also finds a more sympathetic “family”. This is a pretty funny comedy thanks to some whip smart writing by Shauna Cross (who also penned the novel) but also due to an endearing cast. That includes Alia Shawkat and Jimmy Fallon who should give up his night job because as 'Hot Tub' Johnny Rocket he’s clearly a better comic actor than talk show host. Sporting cute but menacing monikers like Maggie Mayhem, Bloody Holly and Smashley Simpson are Kristen Wiig (another SNL alumnus) along with Juliette Lewis and Drew Barrymore who takes a small part on screen but a big part off screen as director of the film. For the most part Barrymore does this pretty well whipping up a lot of charm interspersed with the right amount of action.