Bad script and bad use of talent fails "Whip It"

Rating: 5/10 (13 September 2009)

I went into this film tonight at the Toronto Film Festival with decent expectations. I knew it was about roller derby's and Ellen page resisting "the man". But I liked the cast and figured I would give it a solid shot. Very wrong to do so. Completely cliché and predictable movie. It follows the exact pattern of so many "teenage rebellion" movies before it. Now this was Drew Barrymore's directorial debut, and it showed she lacked experience. I don't remember a movie that missed so many opportunities for laughs then this one. They would build a good scene and a solid set up for the joke...but no punch line. It did this so many times I began wondering if this were comedy at all. Now, there we're some laughs in the movie I wont lie. And Ellen Page was her usual cute and delightful self. But with the opportunity to use one of the funniest female comedians in the world today, Kirsten Wig, I don't know how you only give her one real joke. Even Drew Barrymore felt underutilized. The film felt like it was trying so hard to make you care about the relationships it completely forgot it was supposed to make you laugh as well. Bad screenplay, rookie directing and under utilized cast makes a forgetful movie. By the way, I hate Jimmy Fallon.