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MOVIES
"Whip It" is about Roller Derby girls!
Joyce: Drew Barrymore does it again. That is--surprises with the like ability of her films. But "Whip It" is directed by and stars Drew Barrymore who does a darn fine job.
Rico: The real star, with whom we spend a lot of time, is Ellen Page of "Juno" fame.
Page is strongly supported by her film mother, Marcia Gay Harden and father, Daniel Stern. I think they are good and pretty typical parents who want the best for their daughter.
Joyce: Some critics are calling this one "Juno" on skates. Page excellently plays Bliss who against everything her mother wants for her decides to get out o her ho-hum town by being a roller derby skater and is thus transformed into her derby title, Babe Ruthless.
Rico: Mom is an overbearing beauty pageant aficionado who naturally doesn't approve of daughter's interest in roller derby skating and fighting. Dad is a bit of a macho type and more easily won over.
Joyce: There are many funny scenes as one would expect, and a number of scenes where one really sympathizes with the overwrought mom who is truly a good person. Harden is really fine expressing both love and extreme frustration.
Rico: The roller derby girls, including Kristen Wiig and Juliette Lewis, appear to be the real deal with outrageous stage names such as Maggie Mayhem, Bloody Holly, Smashley Simpson and, of course, Babe Ruthless.
Joyce: As a matter of fact Wiig, as Maggie Mayhem turns out to be Bliss' mentor with some genuinely good advice, no less. The derby girls are often hilarious and the crazy derbies a new experience to watch. Whew! are they rough.
Rico: It's funny, it's exciting, and the preview audience loved it.
It was much better than I expected.
***1/2 and a green roller derby light.
Joyce: Definitely exceeding my expectations I give it ***1/2 as well.
Film: Whip It
Director: Drew Barrymore
Cast: Drew Barrymore, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Juliette Lewis, Zoe Bell, Ellen Page, Daniel Stern
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
Rated: PG-13
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