Whip It: Movie Review

Movie Review
Whip It

Directed by Drew Barrymore, written by Shauna Cross, 111 minutes, rated PG-13.

The new Drew Barrymore movie, on the other hand, proves that not all child stars are without talent behind the lens. She’s no Ron Howard (yet), but based on the strength of her roller derby dramedy “Whip It,” there’s no question that Barrymore has a promising career ahead of her if, you know, that acting thing of hers doesn’t work out.

From Shauna Cross’ script, which she based on her novel “Derby Girl,” “Whip It” is Barrymore’s directorial debut, and what she has crafted is a film not unlike her own persona. The movie is moody, quirky, light, winking and rebellious, a flick about a young woman who never quite fit in until she found the right people to guide her into someone more substantial and confident.

Here, that character is Bliss (Ellen Page), whose mother (Marcia Gay Harden) once dolled her up and trotted her out to compete in beauty pageants, but not for long. Bliss eventually does a 180 by joining a cut-throat roller derby squad called the Hurl Scouts.

The lot of them are tough, big-hearted losers (Eve, Kristen Wiig and Zoe Bell co-star), but since Barrymore has learned a few things from her former director Steven Spielberg, there’s no way they’ll be losers for long.

Neither will Bliss, who goes by Babe Ruthless in the ring, which is perfect since a mean beast on an opposing team, the fearsome Iron Maven (Juliette Lewis, loose as ever), is determined to undo her.

Unlike “Couple’s Retreat,” what’s curious about “Whip It” is that its predictability doesn’t spoil it — the movie is having too much fun darting toward its happy ending, the likes of which won’t surprise anyone who witnessed the revealing trailer and television campaign.

You don’t admire the movie for the chances it takes — it doesn’t take any, really. Instead, you admire it for the care that went into fleshing out its characters, the camaraderie that grows between them, and the thrill of watching a few harrowing turns around a skating rink — all while watching Bliss grow up and find herself thanks to it.

Grade: B