WHIP IT

After seeing WHIP IT, I have something new to add to my bucket list. I want to be a derby girl and kick some *ss, just once! Of course, as I’ve shared before, I’m a klutz when it comes to anything athletic so being able to remain vertical on roller skates would be the first step in this process. Still, once I can skate, watch out! Maybe we could find someone to sponsor a blogger roller derby? I can think of a few of my fellow bloggers that I’d like to be on my team! I’m already planning my name, you know it’s gonna have fabulous or feisty in it! 😉

What got me so fired up while watching WHIP IT to make me consider this? Everything. My husband and I watched this movie last night and I started suggesting it to friends today. The story follows Bliss, a small town outsider who wants to do something beyond the pageants that her mother makes her endure. You want to hate her mother (played by the amazing Marcia Gay Harden) but you can’t. You feel for her and kind of generally feel bad for the whole family just trying to get by without tripping over each other. There’s a bit of a love story between Bliss and “the boy in the band”, Oliver. When it developed I worried that it would turn into the typical teen-movie storyline – boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl have a big misunderstanding, boy and girl overcome all and live happily ever after. Thankfully, Bliss is stronger and smarter than I would have been at 17 and when the classic “it was all a big misunderstanding” scenario unfolds, she walks away, knowing she’s better than that.

I was chatting with one of my besties about the movie today and asked what her opinion was on the movie. She’s a Marketing and Promotions Manager for an independent theater, who has seen more movies than I’d venture to count.

“WHIP IT is one of those films which doesn’t fall into a single distinct category. Comedy? Sure, there’s enough humour between Ellen Page’s character and her best friend (quirky newcomer Alia Shawkat) or boyfriend, real-life musician Landon Pigg. Action? There’s lots of that too, as the film is set in and around the all-girl roller derby world. Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut makes the audience feel like a spectator at an actual event instead of a person watching a DVD. This film’s got romance too, with one of the most unique underwater love scenes ever captured on film. And finally, it‘s a dramatic mother-daughter story, as a teenage girl grows up and realizes that as much as her mother (played by Marcia Gay Harden) drives her crazy, she really does have her best interests at heart. The film’s clever use of music will most definitely send you to i-tunes after viewing in full.” – Carissa White

Ah yes, the music! I agree you will definitely be googling to check out the music (75 songs packed into 111 minutes!) from the movie. Me, I was even more determined to put on those roller skates when one of my faves, “Cannonball” by The Breeders dominated a great derby scene. Check out WHIP IT, and if there’s a movement for a bloggers derby, you know where to find me (rawr!!!!)