Whip It
A feel-good triumphant riot that should be seen by anyone with an ounce of joy in their hearts.
Drew Barrymore, one of the most beloved women in Hollywood, finally makes her directing debut at the age of 35 after 20 years in the film industry, and it's as wonderful as the star herself.
Whip It is based on the semi-autobiographical novel by roller derby star Shauna Cross, and its classic coming-of-age crossed with underdog sports hero tale has been done a million times before, but rarely as perfectly as this. For Barrymore has injected what could've been a run-of-the-mill teen movie with every fibre of the warmth, humour and camaraderie she displays in front of the camera, making her first feature one of the best films of the year so far.
Hell, she's even managed to make this Juno-hater a rabid fan of Ellen Page, who - stripped of the smart-arse try-hard dialogue no actual teen utters - makes this starring role an utter delight, and a walk in the park for the charming actress. Page is Bliss Cavendar, a 17-year-old small town Texas girl who just wants to be allowed to find her own way in life. As she says to a bitchy classmate who accuses her of being alternative, "alternative to what?". Unfortunately, she is the oldest daughter to Marcia Gay Harden's ex-beauty pageant queen, who drags the reluctant Bliss to various mother and daughter events, complete with fixed grins. When Bliss lays eyes on a tattooed group of girls rollerskating around Austin's clothes stores handing out flyers, it's adoration at first sight. Bliss persuades her best friend Pash (a fantastically sardonic but cute Alia Shawkat) to head up to Austin to see the all-girl roller derby in action, and gets swept into a world where she can become her own hero. Turns out Bliss, in her Barbie skates, is a demon on eight wheels, and joins the Hurl Scouts as Babe Ruthless, despite being underage. There follows the textbook girl-meets-boy scenario, face-offs with disapproving parents and rivalry with a competing team, led by a scene-stealing Juliette Lewis as Iron Maven.
What makes Whip It so special then? Barrymore works from Cross's own screenplay, who perfectly captures the humour teens resort to when placed in ludicrous situations, such as Bliss and Pash's evening job at the dive restaurant The Oink Joint. Page's chemistry with Landon Pigg, basically playing himself as the boy in a band she falls for, is off the scale, and results in a love scene so unbelievably sweet in resulted in tears for this hardened filmlover. A huge-hearted Kristen Wiig is one of the stand-outs as Maggie Mayhem, the single mother who is Bliss's mentor, nurturing with an edge. Harden ensures her motherly overbearingness never descends into cliche thanks to a fully-realised character. Andrew Wilson, a little-known but just as watchable brother to Owen and Luke, is hilarious as the exasperated coach to the Hurl Scouts, always proud to come second out of two. The scenes of the sportswomen in action are a little confusing, but the thrills come from the vibrant players themselves, all colourful women with superb names such as Jabba The Slut. Always heartwarming and believable, you'll be rooting for Bliss and her team as Barrymore (who co-stars as the pratfalling and raucous Smashley Simpson) makes sure the viewer is never taken for granted, with unpredictable consequences. The smartest, funniest, most enjoyable "teen flick" since Mean Girls, don't let the biased advertising put you off if you aren't in the demographic. Whip It is a feel-good triumphant riot that should be seen by anyone with an ounce of joy in their hearts.
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