Fine first film from director Drew Barrymore

Rating: 8/10 (7 January 2011)

Having enjoyed Ellen Page's performances in 'Hard Candy' and 'Juno' as well as liking Drew Barrymore I was keen to see this film even though I don't think I'm part of the target demographic. I was not disappointed; Ellen Page was great as Texas school girl Bliss who is being groomed by her mother to become a beauty queen but discovers her true ambition when she tries out for the 'Hurl Scouts'; a team in the roller derby league in Austin. The team has a reputation for always losing but the girls are clearly having a lot of fun even if their coach wishes they'd try a bit harder. Knowing her mother would not approve of her joining a roller derby team she tells her that she is taking extra classes before sneaking off to Austin on the pensioners' bingo-bus! Once there Bliss becomes 'Babe Ruthless' and with her natural talent the team start to win matches and are heading for the finals; there a few problems though; the final is in the same night as an important beauty pageant and her rival in another team has learnt that Bliss is only seventeen so shouldn't be competing without her parents permission.
This film might not be the best known film of 2009 it is a lot of fun; as mentioned before Ellen Page is great as Bliss and Drew Barrymore did a fine job in her directorial debut as well as playing fellow Hurl Scout 'Smashley Simpson' and Juliette Lewis was impressive as Bliss's rival 'Iron Maven'. The idea of having a losing team get better to reach the finals might not be the most original sporting dramas there was still plenty of excitement watching the matches and when the characters took a blow it did look as if it genuinely hurt. While this film can be enjoyed by anybody I suspect it is targeted mainly at teenage girls who can take away the message that they can compete in sports and they don't need to be dating somebody even if they aren't suitable to enjoy themselves.