Whip it

Locations
Call Number: DVD Comedy Whip
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Malletts Creek Branch, Westgate Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 1st Floor 1-week checkout	DVD Comedy Whip	1-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Adult A/V 1-week checkout	DVD Comedy Whip	1-week checkout	On Shelf
Westgate Adult A/V 1-week checkout	DVD Comedy Whip	1-week checkout	On Shelf

Based on the novel "Whip it" by Shauna Cross.
Originally released as a motion picture in 2009.
Special features: Deleted scenes; alternate opening; sneak peek: watch romantic favorites; trailers.
Elliot Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis, Jimmy Fallon, Daniel Stern.
Bliss Calendar is a small-town teenager with a big dream: to find her own path in the world. Tired of following in her family's footsteps of compliance and conformity, Bliss discovers a way to put her life on the fast track, literally. She lands a spot on a rough-and-tumble roller derby team and becomes 'Babe Ruthless', the hottest thing on eight wheels.
DVD, region 1, widescreen (2.40:1); Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, Dolby Digital surround.
Contents: Whip it.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Spirited and fun submitted by SarahRose on April 27, 2010, 11:41am I wasn't expecting much from this movie, but I found it much more original than I'd expected. Drew Barrymore is hit-or-miss as an actress, but she seems to make a good director. Ellen Page managed to be a smart teenager without being annoying and Kristen Wiig gave a really good performance, which surprised me, considering how awful Saturday Night Live is these days. My biggest complaint is that it is very obvious that this a book's plot crammed into under two hours of movie, still I'm not sorry I watched it. The roller derby culture makes for a lot of fun costuming and one-liners and the Hurl Scouts have great team spirit.

A Hint of Great Things to Come submitted by CasualTim on May 16, 2010, 12:41pm If I had a few million dollars to invest in the production of a film, I'd consider it a risky proposition when Drew Barrymore's people came to me with their hands out for her first attempt (would it be wrong of me to use the word 'flighty?'). But it might end up being a major regret if I chose not to back her. Not because "Whip It" has made much of a profit at all, but because Barrymore shows quite a bit of potential, if not as a box office queen, then as an artist.

With any other director at the helm, "Whip It" would be a pretty straightforward (as in, straight-to-television) feel-good story about a family struggling through the adversity of lower-middle class life to find the things that they love in life, including each other. But Barrymore gives the same little edgy twist to her film as roller derby gives to the 'things they love' idea. The scenes dance back and forth between matter-of-fact realism to an almost impressionistic assertion of story. It lingers and glosses over at unexpected times; it simplifies and exaggerates, and it's done in a way that really works wonderfully to keep us on the same Page (ha) as our wide-eyed teen protagonist. As anyone who's ever been a teen can identify with, Page's character spends most of the film caught in the eye of the proverbial storm: learning how to determine who she is, actively be the person she's figured out that she is, and explain it all to parents who've developed deeply-entrenched methods of trying to help her get to this point.

About Ellen Page: every time I see her in Not Juno, I think she has no chance of escaping her Junoness. And every time she manages to do it. This "introverted teenager with a quirky home life" really had me grimacing at the beginning of the movie. But she does it again, and in just a few minutes she's decidedly Not Juno. I do hope Page someday looks old enough to play adult roles; it'd be a shame to limit her considerable skill to variations (albeit terrifically-played) on a single theme...

Despite its real - and rare - unique way of going about storytelling, and despite the force of Page, this film is by no means immaculate. Barrymore displays two flaws here that manifest in some fairly annoying ways; she's infatuated with her characters, and she's infatuated with her setting. But being overly dedicated to her vision is an attitude I'd wish on many of the directors making blockbusters right now.

Both of these issues can be seen in one bit part. Jimmy Fallon plays the roller derby announcer, an appearance that really deserves to be throwaway. Even if you need to explain the rules of roller derby to the audience (which we don't, since Barrymore had the coach do that), even if you're going to wink at the audience and give a goofy cameo, it needs to be very short-lived. Removing Fallon's performance alone would probably bring this movie in right around that magical 90 minutes. He really provides very little color in his color commentary, which clashes heavily with the real and implied culture of roller derby and his SO ZANY! outfits.

I suspect giving so much time to Fallon served three of Barrymore's needs: it definitely prevented the derby scenes from becoming too specialized and esoteric for the movie (understandable); it let Drew proclaim her love for Jimmy in front of everyone (not understandable); and it filled time in scenes that were inherently difficult to film, particularly, again, while keeping the movie appropriate for an audience not especially interested in seeing teeth get knocked out and ankles suffer compound fractures. This last function is understandable, but a major loss to the film. Not the lack of compound fractures, just the lack of intensity in what should be some of the high points of action in the experience. These scenes were a challenge that we must grudgingly admit Barrymore did not rise to.

Still, there's enough of a truly original interpretation of vision here to have me already interested in whatever Barrymore decides to do next... and to think twice about using the word 'flighty.'* And again, the story itself is told in a way that is unique and will serve as a predictive note in the positive record of Barrymore's hopefully long directing career.

7/10 (with +1 for originality of attitude and tone)

*Of which I must make a note: Drew either places herself in the most supremely ironic, meta, infinite-mirror-reflection role in this film in reference to a reputation - does she have one? - of being, let's say, "whimsical," OR she does the same darn thing she always does. The quality of this film has me a little suspicious now that this rep is more cultivated than I might have previously thought. Either way, I hope she concentrates her full energy on the directing side next time and keeps us guessing.

females? submitted by lekendrick on November 26, 2010, 10:33pm I really liked "freckles" plus this is a filming could be seen on streets of Ann Arbor despite Texas as a setting probably to modern down there, but? It's light! Wonderful pool scene of underwater photography may dreams live most of all? It's the coming of age tale simply centering around females might be lost in it! But, still quite standard!

Whip it submitted by Isa on June 24, 2011, 2:09pm very good and touching for boys and girls

what joy thinks submitted by joiemma on July 1, 2011, 7:18pm good

Great Expectations, Nearly Fulfilled submitted by Meginator on July 3, 2011, 12:46pm As a longtime fan of Drew Barrymore and a fan of Ellen Page for pretty much her entire career, I had really high expectations for this movie. I think that, for the most part, it was a good coming-of-age story about a really fun subculture (roller derby is AWESOME!), but as a film I do think it had some issues. Some of the humor rang a bit false, and there were some loose ends that didn't get wrapped up to my satisfaction. I think this is a good movie, and it's nice to see an empowering, female-fronted film made by women, but it fell a bit short of the greatness (cult or otherwise) I was hoping for. To be clear, though, it's still absolutely worth seeing, particularly for derby fans or fans of either actress.

okayy submitted by ColeenT on July 12, 2011, 2:15pm not the best movie

Cool submitted by LuckyDuck on July 14, 2011, 9:43pm Great movie

funny submitted by 04foremanh on July 11, 2012, 7:07pm very intresting

Great! submitted by alumeng.ajl on July 31, 2012, 3:43pm Ellen Page does a wonderful job! This movie overall is good, too.

Whip it submitted by Jacy on June 16, 2013, 6:25pm A movie filmed partially in the area.

whip it submitted by a2sue on August 26, 2013, 11:24pm i'm always interested in seeing films that are filmed in the area, so i was pleased to check this one out. not a bad effort by drew barrymore.

Quite good submitted by rmhawkins on July 21, 2014, 6:12am This movie is a complete blast! I enjoyed it from beginning to end and cannot wait to see what Drew Barrymore does next as a director.

Fun movie submitted by amym on August 13, 2014, 4:46pm This was better than I was expecting. All the characters were interesting and it made roller derby look like a lot of fun. This was filmed locally, so some of the skaters in this are still skating.

Good submitted by leenajong on August 27, 2017, 6:06pm I think it's fun. Good surprise.

I'd recomend it submitted by Zekicmom on August 4, 2018, 6:32pm This movie was fun. I enjoyed it more then I thought I would, and I'm actually glad to have learned a little something about the roller derby. Great cast.

roller derby girls rooling submitted by lisa on August 14, 2018, 2:19pm not drooling

Great submitted by anacoluthon on August 19, 2018, 3:09am A really fun coming-of-age movie about finding what makes you happy. A great look at the roller derby subculture with a stellar female cast.

Such a Fun Movie! submitted by dntanzer on August 27, 2018, 9:47am I loved this movie. It's exciting and interesting and all about finding what you love and believing in yourself. I thought the acting was great and the movie doesn't take itself too seriously. My only complaint is that the romance felt so unnecessary and forced. If they had left that out, this would be a perfect, light-hearted movie for me!

Fun submitted by lstorc on August 28, 2018, 9:06am The characters were strong, which added the dimension of vibrant roller derby individuals. There's a true reflection of the competitive nature in sports as well as hilarious coming-of-age story.

Fun submitted by c_zhang on June 28, 2019, 11:56pm This was better than I expected. All the characters were interesting and it made roller derby look like a lot of fun. This was filmed locally, so some of the skaters in this are still skating.

weq submitted by GioMuzique on August 5, 2020, 5:46pm very touching

Heartwarming! submitted by lauracmcinnis on August 6, 2023, 6:02pm Great film - looks for shots of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti!