Movie Minx: Whip It

I find myself a little out of touch with the current movie listings since I've just spent the past 3 weeks while I was traveling.  Didn't see a movie theater in Greece at all.  Then again, I didn't look too far off the beach area!  Now I'm back and trying to catch up on all the flicks that have come out recently and get ready for the upcoming ones.  I started yesterday with Drew Barrymore's directorial debut movie, Whip It.

Drew Barrymore steps into the directors chair for the first time in her fairly comprehensive career.  Her screen time as an actor in Whip It felt a bit weak, but her directing was spot on.

Whip It is based on the young adult novel "Derby Girl" by Shauna Cross who used to be a Roller Derby skater in Los Angeles.  A lot of the team and skater names in the movie are straight out of her time as a Derby Doll.  The plot follows 17 year old Bliss Cavendar who's mother desperately wants her to be a beauty Queen but who's alternative-indie-search for her niche leads her to lie about her age and join the Hurl Scouts team of the Texas Roller Derby league.  On top of the really well done sports underdog/competition drama, here's a coming of age plot, a relationship storyline, plus an almost documentary-esque peek at the counter culture of roller derby.  It's quirky and fun and delightfully captivating.

They get fun outfits (including fishnets!) and awesome derby names like "Princess Slaya",  "Smashley Simpson", "Eva Destruction", and "Babe Ruthless".  I think I wanna be a derby girl
 

There was very little to complain about within the movie, and lots of parts that really rocked.  A special kudos to the underwater scene- I've never seen anything like that and it was really wicked.  It was interesting seeing Juliette Lewis again.  It feels like I haven't seen her in years.  Wow though, she has the body of a 10 year old boy.  The rest of the cast was stellar.  Even the real life derby girls who aren't actresses held their own on screen.  I'd say Whip It would make a great date movie or a great flick to go to with a group of friends.  Let it whip you into a frenzy to want to go see the real Roller Derby in action.

Whip It is now playing in theaters everywhere.  It's a fantastic alternative to the mainstream hollywood crap.  Check it out

Movie Minx video pick of the week:

http://www.bite.ca/video/comingsoonwherethewildthingsare/
October is here & that means the wait is finally almost over!  Where the Wild Things Are opens this week!!  So stoked, I can't wait!!  The trailers are such a tease.