Around 12 years ago the sport of roller derby was reborn with less wrestling and more sport. Since then it has been one of the fastest growing sports in North America (including Squamish, where the Sirens have their 2013 home opener next week). In 2009, however, a film was released that boosted the sport's profile and while by no means can it be considered a phenomenal film, it has done great things for the exposure of a fun sport.
The film is Whip It and it is, in fact, Drew Barrymore's first foray behind the camera as a director.
The movie stars a young Ellen Page as a fast food working teen who hears about derby tryouts in Austin. She keeps this secret from her beauty-pageant-loving mother and joins the team. The film is pretty much Drew Barrymore's playbook going through the motions of a bunch of ladies facing and overcoming challenges and generally becoming empowered. The film certainly got the camaraderie of the sport, bang on. And what would a Barrymore film be without some romantic comedy side plots? Well, in this case it would be a better film, as the two worst things about the film are that side plot and the horrific writing for Juliette Lewis, who is an unnecessarily over-the-top meanie.
Besides that, Whip It is a good bit of fluff that is entertaining enough and is currently streaming on Netflix for your immediate enjoyment. And if nothing else, watching this will get you stoked for seeing the sport in all its live glory next Saturday, May 25 at Brennan Park - get your tickets before they sell out.
