Whip It

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Whip It

PG-13

Released Oct 2, 2009

1h 51m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

86%

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190 Reviews

74%

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100,000+ Ratings

Bliss Cavendar lives in small-town Texas and yearns to break free of her mother's world of beauty pageants and conformity. She sees her chance when she meets the Hurl Scouts, a roller-derby team; she tries out for the team and wins a slot, lying to her parents about her new hobby. Bliss finds friendship and freedom with her teammates, but a conflict between a championship game and the Bluebonnet beauty pageant threatens to spill her secret.

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Critics Consensus

While made from overly familiar ingredients, Drew Barrymore's directorial debut has enough charm, energy, and good-natured humor to transcend its many cliches.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: B

Feb 18, 2012

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Xan Brooks

Guardian

Drew Barrymore makes her directing debut with a join-the-dots sports outing that's so brightly played - and so essentially sweet-natured - that its manifest cliches come up smelling of fresh paint.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 9, 2010

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Sukhdev Sandhu

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Although there's nothing original about it, and although it's handled competently rather than with breathtaking élan, it's almost impossible to dislike...

Rated: 3/5

Apr 8, 2010

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Joe Lipsett

Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast

An enjoyable directorial debut from Barrymore, carried by the charm of a very game cast and anchored by a rock solid lead performance by Page. Whip It is just plain fun

Rated: 3.5/5

May 6, 2022

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Alex Behan

Stuff.co.nz

It's a funny, feel good, feminist film that throws elbows, pulls no punches and features a fantastic food fight.

Oct 1, 2021

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Yasmin Omar

Harper's Bazaar

Whip It blends training montages, team spirit and retro glamour.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 25, 2021

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Dave C

A fresh and energetic melee betwixt teen comedy and sports drama, with a lot of teen angst, provocative comedy, and a rebellious spirit running through its core. DB has managed to present something that feels borderless, whilst delivering strong characters, and an enjoyable story - impressive feats given none of this is new material

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/22/24

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Mason M

The ultimate guilty pleasure film for me. Hilarious, fun, and largely a great film due to Robert Yeoman's beautiful photography.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/08/24

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Will K

Took a while to get into it. But stuck with it and glad I did!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/02/24

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Jeff M

I really expected to like this film a lot considering the talent involved. And even though I tried valiantly to get into the groove of it, it just didn't gel with me. And I can't really explain why. The cast is wonderful, and their good spirits are contagious - Kristen Wiig is a particular standout. And if likability were enough to create a good movie, this would be a 5-star winner. But the film was predictable, most of the characters you've seen a hundred times before, the love interest subplot was uninvolving and disposable, and I just didn't find myself laughing that much - or even smiling. Not exactly a disaster but certainly less than what I was expecting.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

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Nicolas D

"Empowering and Enthralling! "Whip It" is a breath of fresh air in the world of coming-of-age films. Drew Barrymore's directorial debut Ellen Page's magnetic performance as Bliss adds depth and relatability to her character's journey of self-discovery. The film flawlessly captures the essence of rebellion, showing us that it's okay to break free from expectations and forge our own paths. The camaraderie among the roller derby team members is infectious, leaving you cheering for their victories both on and off the rink. "Whip It" is an absolute triumph. A must-watch for anyone seeking a dose of inspiration, laughter, and unbridled fun!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/19/23

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Lexe

I really liked this movie, I gave it 3.5 stars, something very different, but very good. The main character plays a vulnerable but sassy role, and the rest of the cast are fantastic

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/09/23

Full Review

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Drew Barrymore

Director

Elliot Page

Bliss Cavendar

Marcia Gay Harden

Brooke Cavendar

Kristen Wiig

Maggie Mayhem

Drew Barrymore

Smashley Simpson

Juliette Lewis

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Synopsis

Bliss Cavendar lives in small-town Texas and yearns to break free of her mother's world of beauty pageants and conformity. She sees her chance when she meets the Hurl Scouts, a roller-derby team; she tries out for the team and wins a slot, lying to her parents about her new hobby. Bliss finds friendship and freedom with her teammates, but a conflict between a championship game and the Bluebonnet beauty pageant threatens to spill her secret.

Director: Drew Barrymore
Producer: Barry Mendel, Drew Barrymore
Screenwriter: Shauna Cross
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Flower Films, Rye Road, Vincent Films
Rating: PG-13 (Drug Material|Crude Dialogue|Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 2, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.0M
Runtime: 1h 51m

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