Whip It
When word got out that Hollywood starlet Drew Barrymore would be directing and starring in a movie about roller derby, America wasn’t sure how to react. Barrymore had a loyal fan base as an actress, but directing would be a new feat for her.In short, Whip It is about a small town misfit (Ellen Page) who is sick of competing in beauty pageants for her mother. She finds her calling with the ‘Hurl Scouts’ roller derby team while sneaking out with a friend. The plot is intertwined with friendship, romance, and family relationships. Barrymore’s first attempt at directing couldn’t have been easy due to the unconventional storyline. However, to put it simply: she rocked it.Flying under the radar, Whip It received regularly positive reviews and grossed 13,043,363 in North America. Not bad for a first time director. However, the film did not receive nearly as much attention as it deserved. Maybe you were thrown off by the idea of a movie based on foul mouthing punch throwing roller derby girls, but that shouldn’t stop you from breaking free of the crowd and going out to rent Whip it today. All in all, the movie was unconventionally funny (Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore made a humorous duo), and even heart wrenchingly familiar. It was a relief to get away from the traditional love stories or try-too-hard comedies and get lost in the world Barrymore created onscreen. Whip It may have fallen off the map but it deserves a second chance.