With the end of the summer movie season fast approaching, and GI Joe being the only tent pole film left to release in August, it is time to start making your movie line up for the fall. A movie that is sure to make on it a lot of lists is Whip It!
Never heard of Whip It!, you say? Well neither had I until a couple of days ago – but I can tell you it isn’t based on the fantastically delicious creamed topping in a can or the dance party song by Devo.
If you are wondering why you should watch Whip It! I have four things to offer you – Hot girls, shorts skirts, roller skates and mayhem! Drew Barrymore steps behind the camera for the first time with Whip It! and from the trailer below it would appear she has a done a great job. Of course trailers are made to show off the film and not make it look crappy but I like the overall look and feel of the film.
The ever so cute Ellen Page (Juno, Hard Candy) stars as Bliss Cavendar growing up in Bodeen, Texas where her mom (Marcia Gay Harden) has dreams of her becoming a pageant queen. Of course, Bliss rebels and like other teenage girls, looks for a way to break free of her mom’s control and find her own way. So, naturally she goes to a roller derby match where she meets the members of the Hurl Scouts: Smashley Simpson, Eva Destruction, Dinah Might, Bloody Holly and Malice in Wonderland (my personal favorite).
There are also some very beautiful and funny women playing the derby girls. Juliette Lewis (Cape Fear), Kristen Wiig (Adventureland), Zoe Bell (Deathproof, Gamer) and Eve all look good – and with Daniel Stern as Bliss’s dad, the cast rounds itself out nicely. IMDB shows Jimmy Fallon with a credited cameo but we’ll just overlook that, shall we?
The film is based on a novel by Shauna Cross, who also wrote the screenplay. Whip It! appears to have the makings of a very fun date film. In fact, Cross still plays roller derby so, if anything, the sport should be portrayed accurately.
Not many people know about roller derby and because it is very much an indie type sport, not many people get to watch it. I had the privilege of watching a match back in 1994 in Kentucky – and let me tell you, these women mean business. It’s a serious hobby and it requires some serious work and sacrifice. If you have a circuit in your town, I encourage you to go check out a match. I guarantee it will be the most fun you can get for five or six dollars.
Be sure to head over to USA Today for the entire set of stills from the movie (and be sure to check out picture 6 of 8). I never knew Kristen Wiig looked so good in a mini skirt.
Does Whip It! look like something you will add to your fall line-up?
Whip It! comes to theaters and gives us a cross-check October 9, 2009.
Source: First Showing
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