IMDb > Whip It (2009)
Whip It
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Photos (see all 99 | slideshow) Videos (see all 27)
Whip It (2009) -- In Bodeen, Texas, an indie-rock loving misfit finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin.
Whip It (2009) -- A clip from the movie Whip It.
Whip It (2009) -- Drew Barrymore talks about the themes and characterizations of the movie Whip It.
Whip It (2009) -- Interview: Marcia Gay Harden "On why audiences will love the film"
Whip It (2009) -- Trailer for this coming of age story about a girl discovering roller derby

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   2,374 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Down 23% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Drew Barrymore

Writers (WGA):

Shauna Cross (screenplay)
Shauna Cross (novel)

Contact:

View company contact information for Whip It on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

2 October 2009 (USA) more

Genre:

Comedy | Drama more

Tagline:

Be Your Own Hero

Plot:

In Bodeen, Texas, an indie-rock loving misfit finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin. | full synopsis

Plot Keywords:

more

Awards:

1 nomination more

NewsDesk:
(490 articles)

People's Choice Award Nominees: The Year of the Vampire
 (From TVStar. 12 November 2009, 11:25 AM, PST)

Drew Barrymore Had Chance to Direct "Twilight: Eclipse"?
 (From Reel Empire. 8 November 2009, 4:27 PM, PST)

User Comments:

Drew Barrymore + Ellen Page = a winning team more (33 total)

US Showtimes:

Beverly Center Cinemas 1:05pm | 4:05 | 7:05 | 10:05 (personalize) more


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sarah Habel ... Corbi

Shannon Eagen ... Amber
Edward Austin Austin ... Pageant Coordinator
Mary Callaghan Lynch ... Val

Ellen Page ... Bliss Cavendar

Alia Shawkat ... Pash

Marcia Gay Harden ... Brooke Cavendar

Barbara Coven ... Pagent Mother
Eulala Scheel ... Shania Cavendar
Nina Kircher ... Trudy
Daniel Stern ... Earl Cavendar

Mark Boyd ... Ronny
Carlo Alban ... Birdman
Doug Minckiewicz ... Colby
Michael Petrillo ... Poindexter
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:

Derby Girl (USA) (working title)
more

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content including crude dialogue, language and drug material.

Runtime:

Canada:111 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45370) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA more


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

Ellen Page dropped out of Drag Me to Hell (2009) to be in this film. more

Goofs:

Continuity: In one of the first locker room scenes Smashley Simpson has a taped up nose and two black eyes. In the next scene her nose is not taped and her black eyes have disappeared. more

Quotes:

Bliss Cavendar: [from trailer] The last time I wore skates, they had Barbies on them. more

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2009-10-03)" (2009) more

Soundtrack:

Boys Wanna Be Her more


FAQ

Is "Whip It" based on a book?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
What does the title "Whip It" mean?
more
21 out of 27 people found the following comment useful.
Drew Barrymore + Ellen Page = a winning team, 24 September 2009
8/10
Author: larry-411 from United States

I attended the World Premiere of "Whip It" at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. This is quite an impressive directorial debut for Drew Barrymore (who also stars).

Barrymore works with a Shauna Cross script (based on her own novel Derby Girl) and an all-star cast featuring Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Daniel Stern, Kristen Wiig, Landon Pigg, Jimmy Fallon, Eve, and Juliette Lewis.

Page is Bliss Cavendar, whose mother (Harden) sees her daughter in gowns and crowns as she continues the family tradition of winning beauty pageant trophies. But Bliss' chance encounter with a group of roller skating girls plants other ideas in her head. Austin, Texas happens to host a roller derby league, it's not too far away, and Bliss finally sees a way out of her town (and gown). This sets up a family confrontation that is the stuff of classic coming-of-age stories.

The film starts out slow then whips into action, its brilliant ensemble cast hitting its stride and functioning like a winning roller derby team (without the bruises). Then just when you think "Whip It" is headed into sports rom-com cliché territory, surprising twists keep it original and refreshing. But despite the multitude of talented actors, Page clearly carries the film on her diminutive shoulders and is easily in control of the material.

Production values are naturally first rate, with a vivid color palette and in-your-face costumes that are occasionally (and appropriately) over the top. Cinematographer Robert D. Yeoman and editor Dylan Tichenor work perfectly in sync by reflecting both the snail's pace of Bliss' home life vs. the secret one that flies on wheels around the Austin track. Camera-work places the viewer directly into the action. Despite having been filmed primarily in Michigan (due to favorable tax credits) the Austin scenes are prominent, placing its landmarks in a warm, affectionate light. One benefit of a big budget is the ability to purchase music rights, and the result is a killer soundtrack that will have the audience singing along. Be sure to stay for the second of the two closing credits songs, the best ever cover of one of the greatest rock 'n roll love songs of all time, The Association's "Never My Love." Fox Searchlight scores again with Ellen Page, just like they did in 2007 with "Juno." Unlike that (at the time) dark horse, this is no little indie. This is classic Hollywood comedy. "Whip It" is another crowd pleaser to add to this year's must-see list.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (33 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Whip It (2009)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Bliss/Ellen Page, so much better here than in Juno FilmStudentCentral
Daniel Johnston reference GreenTangerine
Fox Searchlight should campaign for awards for Whip It instead of Amelia dlgirl
What Would you're Roller Derby name be? sammycakes1979
UK Release? josef_ford
'Whip It' Coming To DVD + Blu-ray 1/26/10 Bigredhunk
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