For every girl who doesn’t fit in to the typical high school mold, who would never attend a football game and who considers The Ramones as one of the greatest bands of all time, there is the movie “Whip It!†Break out those roller skates ladies, slip on your ripped fishnets and pile on the eyeliner. Filled with hot hipster boys in skinny jeans, and a soundtrack that blows Juno far out of the water, “Whip It!†is the perfect movie for you.
Meet Bliss Cavendar played by Juno actress Ellen Page. Bliss is a resident of Bodeen, Texas and an employee of the local BBQ joint that has a giant pig on its roof. Her mother enters her in beauty pageants, but Bliss really prefers combat boots to satin heels. On a day trip to nearby Austin, Bliss discovers girl’s roller derby, and nothing is ever the same. Bliss breaks out her old Barbie skates and gets on the team, The Hurlscouts. Actresses such as, Drew Barrymore, Saturday Night Live’s Kristen Wiig, and Eve play Cavendar’s Hurlscout team members.
Think it can’t get better than that? Drew Barrymore not only plays Smashly Simpson, the rainbow haired tough girl, but she also directed the movie.
“The main love story in ‘Whip It!’ is between the girl and her mother.†Barrymore said in a recent interview with InStyle magazine.
Barrymore’s problems with her own mother inspired her to take on this movie along with the idea that “Whip It!†is a “become your own hero†kind of film.
Of course, Bliss must hide her newfound passion from her overbearing mother, who has her heart set on Bliss being Ms. America. Pretending to take an SAT class, but really riding the Bingo bus with Senior citizens to Austin, Bliss is able to go to practice and participate in games as Babe Ruthless.
Her mother is not Bliss’s only problem. You have to be 21 to participate in roller derby, and Bliss is only 17 so she must hide her age from her team members. Along with boy and best friend problems, Bliss had a lot of anger to take out on the track.
It seems the world of Indie movies has moved on from awkward, adorable, Michael Cera and on to hot musicians. Meet local band member, Oliver (played by real-life musician Landon Pigg.), who becomes Bliss’s love interest.
The soundtrack goes perfectly with the movie, and includes music from girl led bands such as Peaches, The Breeders and The Ettes. Girl power exudes from every aspect of this film.
Every moment of “Whip It!†is entertaining, and leaves you craving a broken nose and manic panic hair dye. Bliss will be your next style influence with her combat boots, long wavy hair and ironic Christian metal tee. It looks like Drew Barrymore’s directorial career is only beginning, and with a great start.