You know, when I saw the trailers for this movie, I thought it must take place in 1984 or something. Look at the way they dress and the cars they're driving and the music... but no, it takes place in the present, it's just that they're in the remote town of Bodine, Texas. Well, and Austin too. The point is, the further you get from a mainstream metropolis, the further back in time you go.Anyway, Whip It is a fantastic movie mostly about female empowerment and "coming of age" and parenting and also about something called "The Squeeler." No, I won't explain what The Squeeler is, you'll have to go see the movie. Unlike Ellen Page's character in Juno, Bliss is shy and quiet and awkward and stuck living her mother's dreams of winning beauty pageants and hating it. Then she discovers roller derby and the tough, loud, and outrageous women who skate the oval for fun and glory. That's pretty much what you get from the trailer and I don't plan on revealing any more. The writing is witty and funny and moving. The music fit so well I can't actually recall much of it (I think that's good). I laughed out loud several times and even cried a couple times. I really couldn't find anything overtly wrong about it, though throughout, I kept getting this nagging feeling like something was just the tiniest bit off, but I have no idea what that thing is... Regardless, it was great fun and had that great feel-good value to it. Definitely go see it.
