Article by: Ashley Maceli

Oozing with girl-power and independence, Whip It (Fox Searchlight, 2009), directed by Drew Barrymore, simply kicks ass in the best way possible. A contact sport film with girls in skimpy outfits and fishnets for the boys and a coming-of-age tale for the girls, Whip It is able to entertain anyone.

Adapting her novel Derby Girl (Henry Holt and Co., 2007) into the new drama-comedy, screenwriter Shauna Cross presents a rather exciting, fast-paced and surprisingly heartwarming film. Seventeen year-old Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page) is an alternative outcast in her middle-of-nowhere town in Texas. From being a misfit in high school, to working at her lame job at the Oink Joint restaurant with her best friend Pash (Alia Shawkat), to being shoved into a world of tiaras and custom-made dresses by her mother’s dream of her daughter being a beauty pageant winner, Bliss just can’t find a comfortable spot to reside in.

On a shopping trip in Austin with her mother (Marcia Gay Harden), Bliss gets her first glance at roller derby girls and is completely intrigued. Bliss drags Pash to the roller derby game in Austin and instantly becomes aware of her calling. Upon talking to Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig), a member of the underdog team the Hurl Scouts, Bliss decides to try out for the team. She impresses the coach, Razor (Andrew Wilson), with her speed and earns herself a spot on the roster, moving on up from her Barbie-doll roller skates to being the new poster child of the roller derby league.

With team members like Smashely Simpson (Drew Barrymore), Bloody Holly (Zoë Bell) and Rosa Sparks (Eve), Bliss learns their ways and is dubbed Babe Ruthless. The team struggles and works hard to make the championships. Bliss not only has to juggle the pressures of doing well in roller-derby, but also has to keep her new secret from her family, worry about the team rival Iron Maven (Juliette Lewis) and balance a love life with a cliché indie rocker, Oliver (Landon Pigg).

The lovable Juno star, Page, plays yet another one of her misfit roles, and does it extremely well, as always, which is what is so lovable about her. The down-to-earth actress can make any teenage adolescent feel as though they can accomplish anything as long as they have spunk. Even the mother-daughter relationship between Bliss and her mother created a few tear-jerking moments, but in no way overdoes it.

Not only was the acting great in this film, but everyone was a complete riot. The familiar talk show host and Saturday Night Live alum, Jimmy Fallon played the desperate roller-derby host, “Hot Tub” Johnny Rocket whose jokes are laugh-out-loud funny. Kirsten Wigg, also of SNL, brings a couple of laughs, even as the most stable team member. Barrymore completely hammed up her violent role as “Smashley,” making the aggression and brutality of roller-derby funny.

Barrymore certainly proves that not only can she act, but can also take the reins of directing rather well.