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'Whip It' Makes Roller Derby Equal Female Empowerment

Friday, Oct 2, 2009
cover art

10-02-2009

(Fox Searchlight)

Well-known actress Drew Barrymore makes her directorial debut with Whip It, the story of a Texas teenage girl Bliss (Ellen Page) who decides to rebel against her beauty pageant upbringing and trades in her chances for a crown in for a pair of roller skates to enter the world of roller derby. “You are my new hero,” Bliss tells one roller derby star who she watches pass out flyers for an upcoming event. The derby star tells her, “Well, grab a pair of skates and be your own hero.” Her mother (portrayed by Marcia Gay Harden) vehemently disapproves against her choice and makes her opinions known as her father secretly supports her efforts.


The movie is about relationships, focuses on female empowerment and the world of derby gives Bliss the opportunity to find out where she belongs, make some friends and find herself along the way.



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By PopMatters Staff
5 Jan 2010
Someone, the same old suspects show up on this list - cheesy horror films, goofy gross out comedies, and the occasional certified WTF title. Lucky for us, 2009 was no different when it came to culpable schlock.
2 Oct 2009
What Whip It does make clear is that all girls are expected to perform, whether expectations are embodied by parents or audiences.
17 Apr 2009
As part of The Lost Collection (“the best movies you totally forgot about”),this one is worth remembering.
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