20th Century Fox | 2009 | 111 mins. | Rated PG-13
Based on the novel Derby Girl by Shauna Cross (who also wrote the screenplay), Whip It marks the feature film directorial debut of Drew Barrymore. Juno star Ellen Page plays Bliss Cavendar, who is desperately looking for a way out of her dead-end hometown of Bodeen, Texas. Bliss’ loving but domineering mother Brooke (Marcia Gay Harden) believes her daughter’s only way out is to win the local Miss Blue Bonnet Pageant. However, Bliss doesn’t see herself as some sort of beauty pageant debutante, and she also knows she doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life as a waitress at the Oink Joint.
When Bliss spots a few roller girls as they skate by her at a thrift store, she is immediately smitten—she has finally found something that truly excites her, but is too repressed to pursue it. With a little nudge from her more brazen best friend, Pash (Alia Shawkat) the two sneak off to a roller derby night in nearby Austin. There, the teams—such as the Hurl Scouts and their arch-enemies, the Holy Rollers—inspire Bliss with their punkish attitudes and brutal antics. Convinced roller derby is for her, 17-year-old Bliss lies about her age and attends tryouts.
Bliss becomes a member of the Hurl Scouts, under the moniker of “Babe Ruthless.” Her teammates are a tough bunch of girls, including: Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig), Smashley Simpson (Barrymore), Rosa Sparks (Eve), Bloody Holly (Death Proof’s Zoe Bell), and Eva Destruction (Ari Graynor).All of the girls, and their coach Razor (Andrew Wilson), give it their all, but never win. From the moment Bliss puts on skates, she’s a natural—her size and speed make her an instant sensation and her picture adorns posters for the league and she becomes a bitter rival to the league´s superstar, Iron Maven (Juliette Lewis). At the same time, Bliss finds herself falling in love with budding musician Oliver (Landon Pigg) and discovers that her father lies to her mother to enjoy the things he loves. Her friendship with Pash begins to strain as well as finds she prefers her Babe Ruthless persona.
Taking its title from one the sport’s signature moves, Whip It is a heartwarming tale that romanticizes the roller derby subculture in a good way. Yes, all the clichés are here—the training montage and “the big game,” the loss of innocence, the idiosyncratic characters, the family feuds and tender reconciliations—but the sports action is fun and intense, and it’s impossible not to catch a little of the ‘girl power’ message that pulses through nearly every frame of the film.
While Whip It isn’t a classic, Drew Barrymore has definitely proven she has the chops to direct. Further, it’s nice to see a film completely made by women, as those instances are way too few. A word of warning to Ellen Page fans: Bliss Cavendar is not Juno redux. She plays this character with more heart than sarcastic sass, giving her a likability that’s hard to resist.
Whip It debuts on Blu-ray with a warm and attractive 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer (2.35:1), which really complements the film’s humorous aspects. Though there are a few soft spots, the picture quality displays strong definition in foreground objects, and there is clear visibility of all background information. Shadow details are wonderful and revealing, which is perfect for the many low-lit interiors and derby matches. Grain structure is very thin and even throughout. Black levels are deep and accurately rendered, providing good depth of field, while contrast is comfortably bright and crisp. Colors are nicely saturated and full-bodied, with good variations in the other hues and healthy, lifelike skin complexions. Fans should find this transfer visually pleasing.
The solid DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack that really highlights the film’s lively roller derby events; surround activity isn’t as overwhelming or immersive as it probably could be, but the cheers of the crowd display some very light bleeds in the rears for subtle atmosphere, and the echoes of “Hot Tub” Johnny’s colorful comments fill the room satisfyingly. The lossless mix is generally front-heavy by design, and the presentation is quite remarkable and engaging. Dynamic range is sharp and cleanly delivered, with wonderful differentiation between the highs and lows. Imaging and channel separation is well-detailed and convincing, providing the soundstage with an impressive, room-penetrating presence. Vocals are crystal-clear.
Whip It doesn’t include any standout special features. It’s all pretty standard stuff.
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 15 min) – A collection of nine expunged scenes.
• Alternate Opening (HD, 1 min) – This alternate scene shows Bliss and Pash jumping off the roof of the restaurant where they work.
• Fox Movie Channel presents “Writer’s Draft: Shauna Cross of Whip It“ (SD, 3 min) – This short interview with the author and screenwriter of the film originally aired last year on the cable network, Fox Movie Channel. Shauna Cross explains the origins of the story, her experience in the sport, and the process of pitching the idea to Barrymore’s film production company.
• Whip It Soundtrack Spot (SD, 1 min) – The commercial for the film’s soundtrack on CD.
• Digital Copy – The package comes with a standard definition copy of the film for portable devices.
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