"Whip It," released in 2009, marks Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut and her only feature film behind the camera to date; she also appears in a supporting role. The narrative centers on Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page), along with her parents, portrayed by Daniel Stern and Marcia Gay Harden, and her close friend Pash (Alia Shawkat). Bliss is immersed in the world of beauty pageants due to her mother’s intense focus on them, but she becomes captivated by a roller derby team while visiting Austin, TX. She then decides to try out for the Hurl Scouts. "Whip It" begins at a slow pace and isn't immediately compelling, but it eventually gained my favor. Essentially, it's a coming-of-age story using roller derby as its setting. Because Ellen Page is the main focus, those who enjoy her work will likely find something to appreciate in "Whip It." I don’t have strong feelings about her acting; she’s fine either way. Fortunately, there’s enough merit here to appeal to a wider audience. I particularly enjoyed the roller derby girls and their sense of teamwork and rivalry. The cast includes Juliette Lewis, Kristen Wiig, Eve, Zoe Bell, Ari Graynor, Eli Bleiler, and Sydney Bennett. What I appreciate about these women is that they have realistic figures and aren’t overly thin with large breasts. For example, the Manson Sisters, played by Kristen Adolfi & Rachel Piplica, are visually striking throughout the film and alone make it worth seeing – beautiful representations of womanhood. There's a subplot involving Bliss developing feelings for a musician in a rock band (Landon Pigg), and there are other characters like the coach, the derby announcer, and the Hispanic manager of the restaurant where Bliss & Pash work (Andrew Wilson, Jimmy Fallon, and Carlo Alban respectively). However, the story mainly revolves around Bliss, her family, Pash, and the derby team. Overall, the drama in this coming-of-age movie is uneven; I found the romantic storyline somewhat dull but appreciated the interactions between Pash and the Cavendar family. The best aspects are definitely the roller derby sequences and the appearance of the women on the team. The film has a running time of 111 minutes and was primarily filmed in Michigan (Detroit, Saline, Ypsilanti, Birch Run, and Hamtramck), with some scenes shot in Austin, TX. GRADE: B-/B

Source on TMDB