When I first saw Ellen Page in her Academy nominated performance in Juno, I thought she was funny, but had a lot of talent as well. Since Juno co-starred Michael Cera, I had a bad feeling she was going to play the same typecast role as he’s continued to do and only benefited from a brilliantly written script from Diablo Cody. Thankfully she is anything but playing the same type roles. In our Films U Missed section, I read that she was really good in Hard Candy (a must watch for me) and judging from the trailer for Whip It, it’s safe to say she’s very dynamic. The biggest surprise that came to me when I first read up on Whip It is that it’s directed by none other than Drew Barrymore. Her only other directing credit is a 2004 TV documentary called Choose or Lose Presents: The Best Place to Start. I think it’s a good thing she’s going behind the camera. I would like to see what she brings to the table. I have no idea why the movie is called Whip It, perhaps it’s a term that’s used in roller derby, which the movie focuses on. The only time I’ve heard the term before was the 1980 hit by Devo. I’m assuming the film will explain the title choice.

Appearing in a beauty pageant with blue hair is an automatic loss, like denying Perez Hilton a satisfactory answer to his question.

Page plays Bliss Cavendar, a teen suffering from living in a small Texas town called Bodeen. After failing to make an impact in the beauty pageant circuit (forced upon her by her parents), she seeks an alternative interest outside of school to cure her boredom. While shopping in a thrift store, she is approached by a group of girls skating into the store and handing her a flier about a roller derby league in Austin. She attends the event and soon enough, joins up. She naturally struggles with it at first and doesn’t receive approval from her parents, played by Daniel Stern (Home Alone) and Marcia Gay Harden (The Mist). She loves roller derby, but has to deal with the pressure from her parents of going against their discretion and gaining the brutal physical and mental aspects other players possess in her chosen passion.

The movie co-stars Kristin Wiig (Adventureland), Juliette Lewis (From Dusk Till Dawn), rapper Eve (Barbershop 2: Back in Business), Jimmy Fallon (Fever Pitch), Zoe Bell (Death Proof) and Barrymore herself. As mentioned before, Whip It is directed by Barrymore and this will essentially be her debut film behind the camera. The movie is adapted from the book, “Derby Girl,” which was written by Shauna Cross, who actually played roller derby. Cross adapted the screenplay herself and she also wrote the script for a film called Taking 5.

"I haven't had this much fun since I gave away my baby."

I’m still undecided on seeing this and it will definitely be a game-time decision to do so. This looks to be a hit for female audiences and perhaps I’ll feel left out of the mix. Whip It should be big considering Page’s star power. Barrymore, who also serves as an executive producer, hopes this movie will turn toward the box office and Whip It, Whip It Good!

Whip It opens October 2^nd.

There have been several attempts at displaying roller skating/roller derby on screen throughout the years.  There is Heather Graham as the infamous “Roller Girl” in PTA’s epic Boogie Nights. There is James Caan in the 1975 classic Rollerball.  There was even a roller-skate themed Bow-Wow movie Roll Bounce which I know is beloved by all.  Now, Drew Barrymore makes her directorial debut with Whip It.  I don’t believe there is any affiliation with the classic Devo hit.  “Whip It good!!!”  According to USA Today, Page plays, get this “a rebellious teenager” not so much a stretch for her I would say, who plays the dangerous game of Roller Derby.  She rolls for a team called the “Hurl Scouts.”  Oh Drew, you crack me up.  Insert your decade-old “not” joke here.  To continue: “who signs up to play the brutal and sexy female sport against her mother’s will, finding friendship and freedom among the bruises and falls.”  This sounds like your typical coming-of-age tale with a twist. Given that Barrymore is directing, there is a bit more intrigue as she has produced such films as Donnie Darko, but on the other hand did the same for Charlie’s Angels.  What do you think we’ll get here?

The "Hurl Scouts" taking action. Scary.

I’ll say the only time skates are acceptable to me is if you are under 10 yrs. of age or you’re Heather Graham having sex, after that, I can’t say as I see much use for them. Same goes for skateboarding. To take their slogan and flip it, “It is a crime!” It should be anyway. Nothing good can come from wheels in the open other than injury. You can reach me at broken arm on a board when I was younger, daredevil that I was. Acid dropping and building ramps and what not. A regular Tony Hawk, pre his era I say. Nevertheless, as for Whip It, we do have some exclusive images here and the one above for you, judge for yourself what you expect from this piece of work. I would like to see Page stretch herself more than the sarcastic, out of place, rebellious type. I like her, I think she is talented and cute, but not certain that I will enjoy this piece of work from her. Share your thoughts if you please.