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Ghost Canyon

'Whip It'
(Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, et al / DVD / PG-13 / (2009) 2010 / 20th Century Fox)

Overview: Ellen Page (Juno) scores huge laughs as Bliss Cavendar, a small-town teenager with a big dream; to find her own path in the world. Tired of following in her family’s footsteps of compliance and conformity, Bliss discovers a way to put her life on the fast track...literally.

DVD Verdict: Contact sport and girls, yet the men in this movie hardly play a diminished role. For the ladies there is no pandering, or fainting, or feigning but the women display all the machismo of male athletics without all of the overly serious attitudes which are so much connected with big money. Instead, they compete for the fun and pride of it without any apology. They wear their bruises and sweat like medals.

In short the story that this movie superbly and entertainingly tells is the new one that says women are every bit as competitive and competent as men and without the nurturing that men receive, such as in this culture boys are nurtured to go into contacts sports, and when they get hurt not cry. Notice, "every bit as" not "more than". Women don't have to be more than, they can, however, expect to be equal and this movie depicts that winesomely.

The relational conflict between the main character and her mother reflects this gender bias on an even different level and takes it one step further - into the arena of healing, respect, and understanding. Good for you Drew Barrymore for making this movie your directorial debut!

The icing on the cake is when the girl found then lost boy, and boy was that good! When all things were put into perspective, the boy was simply a distraction - pleasant as that was and no apologies given for pleasure either - how refreshing. The girl needed to lose the boy so that she could find her own mojo. Bottom line, the girl can get a new boy.

And, let's be honest here, Ellen Page absolutely throws herself into every role she has had. She can be a horrifying, vengeful 14 year old (Hard Candy), an unhappy conservative young student (Smart People) or, of course Juno, the lovable pregnant 16 year old. Each she does convincingly. If Ellen Page is in a movie, there is at least one reason to see it!

The only true comparison to formula in this movie - because this story took sterotypes and turned them on their ear - is the male sports movie. This time, the girl and the girls get what the men in aforementioned formula sports stories got. Bravo and Bravo! A superb story and an outstanding sports movie. [DLL] This is a Widescreen presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

Alternate Opening
8 Deleted/Extended Scenes

www.FoxStore.com





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