Stick It (2006)

31% of critics liked it
(96 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(302,534 ratings)

A cocky teenager learns some important lessons about playing by her own rules in this comedy drama. Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) is a gifted 17-year-old gymnast with a strong rebellious streak -- strong enough that she walked away from her teammates on the eve of a major international tournament… More A cocky teenager learns some important lessons about playing by her own rules in this comedy drama. Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) is a gifted 17-year-old gymnast with a strong rebellious streak -- strong enough that she walked away from her teammates on the eve of a major international tournament because she'd had enough of the rigid regimentation of Team U.S.A. After experiencing a scrape with the law with her extreme-cycling friends, Haley is given an unusual sentence -- attending the Vickerman Gymnastics Academy, a world-class training facility run by Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges), who has led some of the world's greatest gymnasts to championship status. Haley makes no secret of her dislike of life at Vickerman's, and her fellow athletes aren't about to forgive her just yet for letting down her teammates. But while Vickerman makes clear things are to be done his way, he respects Haley's talent, and together she shows him and her new teammates how to follow the rules while still expressing your individuality. Also starring Tarah Paige and Vanessa Lengies, Stick It was the first directorial credit for Jessica Bendinger, who wrote the critically praised teen comedy Bring It On. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Jessica Bendinger
Written By: Jessica Bendinger
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 28, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Sep 19, 2006
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

Scott Brown, Entertainment Weekly
A deliriously, defiantly unfocused headrush...
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
I love Jeff Bridges, but watching him mumble and stumble his way through this part, I wondered if maybe he was up before a judge who gave him two choices -- jail or starring in a really bad gymnastics movie.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
There is a positive message in the film, often obscured by the bogus punk attitude.
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
It's a credit to [writer/director] Bendinger's attention to the little details that make Stick It feel so unique and entertaining -- poking fun at elite-level child athletics while still respecting its young characters and their feelings.
Jami Bernard, New York Daily News
A spirited, dizzyingly athletic movie about female rites of passage within the bitchy, competitive world of Olympics training.
Jason Anderson, Globe and Mail
Unfortunately, [Jessica] Bendinger's directorial debut is far more formulaic [than Bring It On].
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
A message of competitive independence permeates debut director Jessica Bendinger's spunky movie about Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) a headstrong gymnast-disguised-as-rebel who learns to embrace her talents by way of careful coaching from Jeff Bridges.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Gymnasts fall short -- it's no Bring It On.
Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper
Like most sports movies, Stick It has a message: Unless they're equipped with loads of sass-back and a pile of band T-shirts that announce their hardcoreness, female gymnasts are really, really stupid.
Frank Lovece, Film Journal International
A middle-aged white guy who's not a perv can actually enjoy the snappy dialogue, astounding athletics and solidly sentimental sports clichés.
Joseph Proimakis, Movies for the Masses
an essence of by-mistake-80s-homage is the only thing keeping this movie at the crust of the rest of made for TV teen flicks
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
Stick It was not made for fat, bald guys in their mid-30s. So is it a big surprise that I didn't like the movie?
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...sample line of dialogue: "I'm so sure I'm practically deodorant!"
Neil Smith, BBC
'This sport is a total joke!' fumes the spunky gymnast heroine of Stick It, a sentiment that will be shared by anyone who wastes their hard-earned on this silly teen comedy.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Missy Peregrym is a real find - she gives an energetic, funny and extremely physical performance, to the point where you feel exhausted just watching her.
Anna Smith, Time Out
Star Missy Peregrym shows more promise in her first feature, despite the fact that her teenage years are clearly behind her, and her charismatic screen presence enlivens an otherwise dull film.
Simon Braund, Empire Magazine
The script fights well against the cliche-ridden plot but this is very average all round.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Snappy dialog and some prickly satire give it an edge most of these youthful romps lack.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

John M

This little seen teen comedy is excellent. Jeff Bridges and Missy Peregrym put on a good show and the gymnastics is amazing at times. Real gymnasts are throughout the movie like co-star Maddie Curly, a UNC Tarheel All American Gymnast. If you havent seen this movie do yourself a favor… More
This little seen teen comedy is excellent. Jeff Bridges and Missy Peregrym put on a good show and the gymnastics is amazing at times. Real gymnasts are throughout the movie like co-star Maddie Curly, a UNC Tarheel All American Gymnast. If you havent seen this movie do yourself a favor and watch it. Its well worth the time.
Bethany M

The film was ok. Missy Peregrym was fiesty and she really carried the film. Kellan Lutz is also undoubtably beautiful.
Richard C

C
Josh L

Typical coming of age sports movie filled with a decent cast and likeable characters. It's got some "hipster" dialogue and its occasionally funny, but it also has a heart. It's nothing new, but what it does it does decently enough. Missy Peregrym is pretty good and… More
Typical coming of age sports movie filled with a decent cast and likeable characters. It's got some "hipster" dialogue and its occasionally funny, but it also has a heart. It's nothing new, but what it does it does decently enough. Missy Peregrym is pretty good and very easy on the eyes.
KJ P

Story, I can see how it is likeable by teen girls, but this film is terribly weak!
Jennifer X

I wish this movie existed without the whole rebellious thing. Which kind of undermines the whole script, actually. But the reason that I still enjoyed it is for the gymnastics and only for the gymnastics. Missy Peregrym is freaking TERRIBLE actress.
Red L

This movie is OK as a filler during the NFL commercials. Typical rebellious-teen-who-mends-her-ways-and-solves-the-sport's-problems movie.
Megan S

I actually really enjoyed this movie. It was really cute and there were some really funny moments. Some of the "dumb gymnast" moments were a little over the top though.
Keith A

It's "Bring It On" meets "Rebel Without A Cause".
Rachel F

I love this movie. I aspire to be more like Missy Peregrym's character, Haley, because she's just badass.
Tim B

A little more interesting than I expected, in that unlike most movies of this type, the sport isn't completely interchangable. This movie is specifically about gymnastics. Having said that, it is still not as funny as I had hoped.
Jason S

Not that good.
Leigh R

Wonderfully happy film. Fantastic cast and beautifully written. Funny as all-get-out.
Dean M

Missy Peregrym's very impressive in her gymnastic skills and this is fun, authentic movie about girls in sport.
Morgan S

really good and funny acually. i wish i could do all that stuff!
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "Stick It", the judges give Haley Graham(Missy Peregrym, who made a better impression on "Heroes") full marks for her dangerous stunts on her bike in a housing development but the arresting police are less than pleased. The judge(Polly… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "Stick It", the judges give Haley Graham(Missy Peregrym, who made a better impression on "Heroes") full marks for her dangerous stunts on her bike in a housing development but the arresting police are less than pleased. The judge(Polly Holliday) gives her a choice - go to Texas Military Academy or VGA. Haley chooses the military academy but is overruled. VGA is the Vickerman Gymnastics Academy run by Burt Vickerman(Jeff Bridges, clearly overqualified) who has a reputation for getting his pupils injured. And Haley is not thrilled to be reentering a world she walked out on suddenly two years previously at the World Championships...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Stick It" has a quality message about how gymnasts specifically and girls in general are forced into constricting roles by their controlling parents, when, in fact, all they want to do is have fun. But the delivery is off. For a movie about attitude, it strangely has none and simply comes off as flat, when it is not being flashy. And the climax is especially hard to believe. Overall, this is a disappointing film from writer-director Jessica Bendinger who wrote the screenplay for the entertaining "Bring It On."[/font]
Dannielle A

"Think about your wenis!" I wasn't expecting much from this movie. But it was awesome.
Yinalí R

It's great!
Nicolas K

I am pleased I did not spend money to watch it.
William G

Little else besides hollow zingers and kaleidoscopic camera work.