Ellen Page, Kristen Wiig, Drew Barrymore

In Bodeen, Texas, an indie-rock loving misfit finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin.

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76% liked it

70,241 ratings

Critics

82% liked it

140 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 51 min.

Directed by: Drew Barrymore

Release Date: October 2, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (2,799)


  • November 14, 2009
    "The last time I wore skates, they had Barbies on them."


    For Whip It, first-time director Drew Barrymore has crafted a sports flick and a coming-of-age tale rolled together to produce a warm, droll charmer of a motion picture. Shauna Cross wrote the screenplay f

    ...( read more)or the film, which was adapted from her own novel Derby Girl: a fictional story constructed using anecdotes from the author's time spent in the professional female roller derby. While Whip It succumbs to several screenwriting conventions, the energy of Barrymore's direction is able to compensate for the script sputtering, and the actors all breathe jubilant life into this adamantly character-driven film.


    The story concerns Texas-based teenager Bliss Cavendar (Page) who resides in the small, dead-end town of Bodeen. She has fallen victim to the narcissistic and nepotistic desires of her mother (Harden) who clings to the glory days of her beauty queen past by forcing Bliss to endure the same type of ritualistic torture. Bored and desperate to escape the tedium of her life, Bliss sneaks out to the roller derby one night where she swoons over the female players with their retro outfits, gaudy make-up and awesomely ludicrous nicknames (Maggie Mayhem, Bloody Holly, Smashly Simpson, etc). From there, Bliss begins training to join the down-and-out Hurl Scouts; the perennial losers of the Austin-based roller derby league. Her speed makes her a standout at the tryouts, and she soon becomes Babe Ruthless - the league's new star.


    Since Whip It is a sports movie, everything comes down to the championship at the end. Happily, everything culminates with a humdinger of a climax - a nail-biting showdown infused with cheer-provoking moments and honest-to-goodness tension.


    In terms of both teen drama and sports movies, Whip It adheres to a customary formula: girl hates the life she's been forced into, finds something she loves, lies to get it, but must reconcile with that lie in order to truly succeed. During the cliché-heavy narrative Bliss also makes real friends, has her first romance, has a falling out with her best friend, and her parents eventually find out about her extracurricular activities. Additionally, Whip It holds true to the time-worn sports movie convention of an inept team that goes all the way with the addition of a new superstar. But it's only when a movie is limply done that you can virtually hear the gears of its formula grinding into place. When a film is bursting with gusto, heart and charm, however, one can gladly enjoy the experience without being too bothered by the clichés. Fortunately, Whip It falls into the latter camp - director Barrymore and writer Cross have stumbled upon a fresh setting for the formula, and the movie only feels like a retread in hindsight. Best of all, the progression of events feel natural as opposed to contrived - it feels like a naturalistic, non-Hollywood depiction of the monotonous life of a young female.


    Unfortunately, the comedy is frequently muted (probably by intention - it wasn't supposed to be a riot); offering only the occasional chuckle but not much else. With Whip It running at almost two hours, a trim would have been beneficial - as would a few more laughs. But Drew Barrymore does deserve credit for her first effort as a director. Having featured in movies since she was a small child, Barrymore has learned from the best (most notably E.T. mentor Steven Spielberg). She acquits herself particularly well during the roller derby scenes; collaborating with cinematographer Robert Yeoman to craft some exciting and fun set-pieces (on top of this, as Roger Ebert noted, Barrymore's supporting role savvily puts her in the position of not asking anything of the actors that she doesn't do herself). Though Barrymore isn't perfectly assured (there are sluggish patches, and not all of the derby sequences are as dynamic as they could be) she hits most of the marks she strived for.


    Ellen Page is rapidly becoming one of the finest actors of her generation, and this movie offers further proof of her immense range. Page has received a bit of a rap for ostensibly playing every role the same, but anyone who has witnessed her heartbreaking turn in An American Crime or her gripping performance in Hard Candy knows better. In Whip It, her role of Bliss is a good choice - shy, weary, frightened and unsure of herself. Page submits a dialled down, heartfelt performance, with little reliance on Juno-style dialogue.
    The rest of the cast offer brilliant support. There are effective performances courtesy of Andrew Wilson (who brings great humour and charm to the role of the Hurl Scout's long-suffering coach), Marcia Gay Harden (who's exceptionally nuanced as the pageant mum) and Daniel Stern (solid as Bliss' supportive father). As for Bliss' team-members, there's Kristen Wiig who's down-to-earth as the captain, as well as Barrymore herself playing the resident badass, and stuntwoman Zoë Bell (previously seen in Tarantino's Death Proof) among others.


    Pacing issues, a myriad of clichés and too few laughs notwithstanding, Whip It is a tremendously enjoyable flick. It's a promising debut for Barrymore behind the camera - a slice of heartfelt, feel-good entertainment.

  • October 28, 2009
    Tattooed women in fishnets pounding, smashing, and tackling each other in the mother of all full-contact sports - wait, Drew Barrymore directed this? That sweet little girl from "ET"? Don't be fooled - although the film might sound like a pulse-pumping exploit into the most aggre...( read more)ssive side of femininity, it doesn't pack any more bite than "Never Been Kissed".

    Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page), a 17-year-old from the small-town of Bodeen, Texas, is held under strict rule by her pageant obsessed matriarch (Marcia Gay Harden) and obedient father (Daniel Stern). When Bliss and her best friend, Pash (Alia Shawkat, from "Arrested Development"), discover the world of underground roller derby, it's not long before she decides to ditch the Miss Blue Bonnet Pageants for a pair of roller skates.

    Through practice, she's eventually recruited to the "Hurl Scouts", your typical rag-tag team of misfits who don't hold a single win under their belt. Alongside Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig) and Smashley Simpson (Drew Barrymore), the newly dubbed Babe Ruthless begins to turn the Hurl Scouts' luck around. But their biggest opposition, led by the threatening Iron Maven (Juliette Lewis), want nothing more than to smash these underdogs to a pulp.

    For a film set in such an exotic environment, I expected something a little more daring. Although the film is pleasant company, it doesn't even attempt to offer any surprises - if you've ever seen a sports movie, a movie about underdogs, or a movie about disgruntled teens feuding with their parents, you've seen "Whip It". Cliché doesn't always have to be a dirty word, but at nearly two hours in length it's not long before the film devolves into a tedious procession towards it's offensively predictable conclusion. The preview screening audience was clapping and cheering along for the ride, but something tells me that now, two days removed, they've forgotten they had ever seen it.

    The screen is filled with wonderful supporting performers: Marcia Gay Harden and Daniel Stern are both written one-note, but elevate the parents into perhaps the most interesting aspects of the movie. Kristen Wiig is far from her usual self in a sort of nurturing motherly role, and she further solidifies herself as an actress of tremendous untapped potential.

    However, as enjoyable as the people on screen can be, it wasn't long before I was twiddling my thumbs until the big game. We know exactly where everything is going, and the journey getting there isn't exactly captivating - watch out, for instance, for the laughably absurd romantic montage that culminates with lovers stripping and fondling underwater. As much as I wanted to hand myself over to "Whip It"'s charms, I had a hard time looking past the fact that it perfectly represents everything wrong with the sports movie genre.
  • October 14, 2009
    Drew Barrymore's directorial debut is a light coming-of-age drama about "being yourself". The message is not particularly earth shattering. In fact, it's rather clichéd. Setting all of the action within the world of roller derby, does go a long way in making the story more in...( read more)teresting, however. And let's not forget that cast, brimming with sincere and honest performances. The eclectic soundtrack is pretty nifty as well. A pleasant enough diversion, just not an especially memorable one.
  • October 12, 2009
    One of the feel-good films of the year. Sure it's predictable, formulaic, and doesn't tread any new ground, but it's entertaining, charming, witty, and the characters are almost all really likeable.

    Strong debut for "director" Drew Barrymore.
  • October 12, 2009
    Charming. Cute. Sensitive. Roller Derby.
  • November 19, 2009
    A really sweet, yet girly movie of teenage priorities and bonds between your friends, your family, and your more intimate acquaintances. Drew Barrymore is all over in this film from the 80's music to the women power undertone. Although all in all this is another sports underdog...( read more) movie just with a much more random sport and a lot more fishnets and lipstick. This movie appeals to a very broad audience however and I hope people catch on to that. Ellen Page is completely relateable and cute. Very very entertaining and fun!!
  • November 15, 2009
    It was a good movie, the sport seems so valiant but it looks so fun too ! Drew Barrymore did a great jo on directing this movie!
  • November 13, 2009
    This Movie was very good..
    a must see.

    Drew barrymore really captured the roller derby life.
    i could not stop watching it.
    It had me on the edge of my seat!
  • November 10, 2009
    This comedy-drama, starring Ellen Page, marks the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore. The film is about Bliss (Page), an indie-rock loving misfit who finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in Austin, Texas. While the film is...( read more) somewhat predictable and includes many cliches, it is still loads of fun. While Page was great - cute, humorous, charismatic - the supporting actors were also quite memorable. Definitely look for Jimmy Fallon as "Hot Tub" Johnny Rocket who was so stupid yet hilarious.

    The film is a girl-empowerment story and deals with mother-daughter relationships, teenage rebellion, small-town boredom, and first love. There are plenty of funny scenes but also some emotional ones as well. The lines are witty, clever, and manage to be simultaneously raunchy and innocent. Certainly nothing we haven't seen before, but still worthy of seeing. I think the film will appeal to a lot of people, which is why it's not surprising that the film has an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It's just a funny, feel-good comedy that is comforting and enjoyable to watch. As Mary Pois of TIME Magazine wrote, "Even if a tale of female empowerment through roller derby is not your particular cup of tea, Barrymore delivers it with such a giddy good sense of fun that it's easy enough to go along with."
  • November 7, 2009
    Well done, forth the ticket.

Critic Reviews


October 2, 2009
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Love may be too strong a word, for me. But I'm deeply in like with Whip It. full review

October 2, 2009
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Boisterous, cloying, simultaneously raunchy and innocent, hip and klutzy. full review

October 2, 2009
Kurt Loder, MTV

A small-scale movie that feels like it was a lot of fun to make. It has a rambunctious charm, a considerable amount of heart and a steady supply of laughs. full review

October 2, 2009
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Whip It has such a sweet spirit that it's easy enough to let its flaws sail by. full review

October 2, 2009
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

It will not change the way you think about movies, roller derby or the relations between teenage girls and their mothers, friends or dreams. But it does invite you to stop and appreciate all those thi... full review

October 2, 2009
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Screenwriter Shauna Cross dulls the edges of her novel Derby Girl, which the skate action and rockin' soundtrack can't disguise. full review

October 1, 2009
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Scene for scene and beat for beat, this roller derby crowd-pleaser crackles with joy and jubilation. full review

October 1, 2009
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Yes, you know exactly where this movie is going. But Barrymore and writer Shauna Cross give us plenty of reason to enjoy the journey, however familiar. full review

October 1, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Yes, the movie has cliches. Yes, it all leads up to a big game. Yes, there is a character's validating appearance near the end. Yes, and so what? The movie is miles more intelligent than most of the c... full review

September 28, 2009
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Barrymore hovers over her actresses like the nicest, most nurturing den mother imaginable, and on its own, Go For It formula terms the movie delivers. full review

View more Whip It reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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Whip It Trivia


  • Name the movie that has both of these quotes: "Excuse me while I whip this out." and "Is it true what they say about the way you people are gifted?"  Answer »
  • Here's one for those of you flooding the quiz with A Cinderella Story questions... HILLARY DUFF, CELL PHONE, CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY (is it me, or does having three names make someone sound pretentious?) WE GET IT, ALREADY!!! ENOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT IT!!! What Top Gun played Sam's dad?  Answer »
  • What song did Helen and Lindsey sing before Lindsey's death in Raising Helen?  Answer »
  • In what movie was the phrase "So, should I just whip it out, or...? " used?  Answer »

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