Whip It

 The premise of Whip It will seem familiar to many fans of modern coming-of-age tales: socially awkward character finds something to be passionate about that changes his/her life, while struggling against overbearing parents and finding love. Despite this conventional format, the film never feels stereotypical and generates a unique tone. 

Social outcast Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page) is looking for an escape from the conventions and pageantry of suburban Americana and finds it in roller derby.  Reinventing herself as Babe Ruthless, she joins the ranks of the Hurl Scouts, captained by Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig), and finds love and friendship in this unorthodox, underground world of grunge and knee pads.  

Bliss goes beyond the usual, quirky misfit archetype, and Page connects with the audience every time she is on screen. Outshining Page, however, is Marcia Gay Harden, who brings refreshing originality to Brooke, the ultimate overbearing Texan mother. Both women combine intensity and creativity to deliver skillful performances. 

Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut doesn’t disappoint, but it becomes clear that she’s not quite comfortable behind the camera. The extraordinarily precise opening 15 minutes of the film raise the viewer’s hopes, but Barrymore immediately abandons her standards, inserting one of the most awkwardly placed and rushed montages ever. The movie never fully recovers from this inauthentic moment and fails to regain emotional legitimacy and credibility.

A promising directorial debut from an established actor, Whip It exemplifies likeable, quirky teenage comedy but is limited by its implausibility.