Whip It, Good?
The trailer for Drew Barrymore's directorial debut Whip It has been released, and if I told you the logline, you could pretty much create this trailer in your head. So why am I actually kind of heartened and hopeful for the movie?
Because honestly, I'm a little OD'd on teenage boy coming-of-age stories right now (at Sundance, you tend to unwittingly stock up on these like a bear fattening up for the winter), and it's nice to see the rare mainstream film that focuses on a girl. How refreshing, too, that Ellen Page's character isn't solely defined by her relationship with a love interest or some internecine girl-on-girl rivalry -- instead, she's allowed to idolize and learn from other women. It's clear that Barrymore embraced that spirit and cast actresses she admired, and it's good that someone finally thought, "Hey, let's give Kristen Wiig an actual role instead of just letting her steal scenes."
I'm not expecting Whip It to reinvent the roller-skate wheel -- like the roller derby team's exultations at the end of this trailer, it'd be just as nice if everyone gave it their all and had a good time.
VERDICT: Ready to lace up
Subscribe to the new Movieline on YouTube
Comments
That trailer depicts some pretty egregious violations of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association's rules and regulations.
I totally totally wanna see this.
The reason why lady movies never have legs at the box office is that all girls secretly hate each other.
Had they retained the services of a "roller-derby consultant", they would have known that pro roller derby girls look less like Low-Rider Magazine models and more like shaved gorillas.
I don't know if I'm elated or depressed by the fact that there is no Devo at all in this trailer.
actually, this looks really cute. i like it. i also think that they got the chicks' looks down right. I shot a lot of roller derby (new era) in new york and this is what they look like. lil' punk rocky, tossed with some burlesque. love it.
When they call it "cute", you should know better... Just strip away the "indie" tunes and fox searchlight's signature "quirky" font choices, maybe picture Hillary Duff in the leading role, and this will certainly reveal itself as the big piece of sparkly poop that it really is. But if even then you still find yourself anxious to experience Drew Barrymore's directorial debut, think about this: the woman can't even direct her mouth to move the right way.
Roller Derby is totally over.
Looks like a fun night out at the movies to me!