Whip It is for everyone!

Rating: 8/10 (14 October 2009)

I saw this film on a date night with my wife and found it to funny, well-written and well-acted. It is so much more about life than it is about Roller Derby, but those scenes are fun to watch as well.
The most surprising aspect of this film to me was the superb acting. Ellen Page delivers a humanity to this film that takes it to another level. The scenes between Ellen Page and Marcia Gay Harden (who plays Ellen's mother) are the most poignant. Jimmy Fallon is surprisingly funny as the Roller Derby Announcer, while the "other" Wilson brother, Andrew, plays a passionate yet tender Roller Derby coach just perfectly.
In a scene where Ellen's character is confronted about her Roller Derby escapades by her mother and father, the acting is of such a high quality, one feels like they have been thrown back into their own childhood, coming home to that disappointed parent.
Juliette Lewis is also such a wonderful villain in this film. It really shoes that she had fun taking on this roll. She is the only character in the film that moves the story forward every time she is on screen.
This was a great flick whether it was meant for the 13-24 female demographic or not. It deserves to be seen by people who can appreciate excellent acting and a great story. I highly recommend it.