The Times

Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: the Scene

Nominated for the Bronze Horse award at Stockholm's Film Festival, Whip It whips up something more than most of us expect - a downright good movie.

Producer/Director Drew Barrymore debuts her directorial skills in this more-than-just-a-chick-flick film, jamming past the pack with this action-adventure.

Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page, Juno) is a misunderstood teen, full of angst and teenage rebellion. Her mother Brooke (Marcia Gay Harden) always wanted a beauty pageant daughter.

And her father Earl (Daniel Stern) was living life with a terrible secret: he loves football.

Bliss calls upon the help of her BFF Pash (Alia Shawkat) to debunk her of the miserable small-town life, after Bliss discovers a flyer for a roller derby event during a shopping trip in Austin with her pageant-driven mother.

There are only a few problems with this.

Problem 1: Bliss isn't allowed to go. The best friends scheme and finagle their way to the show, and Bliss is in bliss with the team.

Problem 2: Bliss isn't 21. So she lies about her age, and becomes her alter ego Babe Ruthless. She comes up with a plan to move to Austin, maintain her roller derby status, and live the all-American dream by living out her dreams.

Problem 3: How is she going to let her mom know she doesn't want to be a beauty queen?

Problems don't have simple answers. This movie proves that even girl problems can be complex.

With all the action of a raw, uncut Fight Club, this movie will be sure to please both the lovey-dovey girlie girls, and the man's man who will go just to please their girlfriends.

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