Whip It: Whip It Good

I was disappointed. Not completely and totally, but just a little. I was hoping for another Juno, which I mean, with really good movies there can only be one, but I wasn't blown away. I really did like it though, I was glad Ellen Page didn't try too hard to make this character SO originial, like Juno. But in this case you didn't need completely original character to carry the story, the story itself was the original trait. ROLLER DERBY! I loved it, from pagent queen to roller derby star- man, I love Texas. The story was fun, the characters quirky, but very relateable, infact I felt like I was watching days from me and my friend hanging out whenever Bliss and Pash got together. That's probabaly the part I liked best, any scene with the two of them. As far as Drew Barrymore goes, most of the directing was good and farely well thoughtout, but there was something to be desired about the authentisity of the derby matches and some of the action shots were weak. Also, I very much doubt someone with Page's stature would last two mintues on a rink. While some parts were too airy and cutesy for me (like the highschool bully) other parts were incredibly real, like the mom and boyfriend situation. Although that pool scene was easily one of my most favorite, not to mention beautiful, things I've seen in a while, I could tell they were holding their breath and it ruined it! I was also glad that they didn't win at the end, it would have felt too contrived, and it wasn't about winning, it was about getting there and it was more real that way. The real battle was Bliss doing something for herself, being proud of it and not ashamed and not feeling like a freak because of it. I nearly cried at the end when the mom read the note. As a whole, it didn't blow me away, but Whip It had some moments that really meant something to me, and that's more than I can say about some of my favorite movies.