Whip It

Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, Whip It follows a Texas-based teenager (Ellen Page’s Bliss Cavendar) as she surreptitiously joins a local roller derby league and quickly discovers that she possesses a real calling for the sport – much to the inevitable chagrin of her parents (Marcia Gay Harden’s Brooke and Daniel Stern’s Earl). Barrymore has infused the early part of Whip It with a lighthearted and thoroughly affable atmosphere that proves an ideal complement to Shauna Cross’ admittedly familiar screenplay, with the encroaching emphasis on Bliss’ roller-derby shenanigans handled especially well by the first-time filmmaker – as the jocular chemistry between Bliss’ newfound teammates becomes increasingly difficult to resist (and it doesn’t hurt that Barrymore has enlisted folks like Kristen Wiig, Juliette Lewis, and Ari Graynor to portray the various athletes). And although Page makes for an incredibly compelling protagonist, the movie’s narrative hits a fairly significant lull as Cross slowly but surely stresses a series of almost eye-rollingly hackneyed elements – including a falling out between Bliss and her best friend (Alia Shawkat’s Pash) and her parents’ discovery of her extracurricular activities. The atmosphere of high melodrama persists right up until the rousing finale, which does ensure that the film ends on a high note, at least, and it’s clear that Whip It could’ve benefited from some serious trims (ie at almost two hours, the movie is at least 20 minutes longer than necessary), yet the stellar performances and Barrymore’s obvious enthusiasm for the material ultimately proves instrumental in allowing the viewer to overlook the myriad of flaws.

**1/2 out of ****