"Whip It" is the self-discovery story of a girl named Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page), growing up in a small-town in Texas. She works at the local Oink Joint with her best friend Pash (Alia Shawkat), and suffers from an over-powering mother (Marcia Gay Harden) who attempts to shove the lifestyle of beauty pageantry down her throat. During a day trip with her mother to Austin, Bliss picks up a flyer for a Roller Derby team trial and develops a scheme to get back to Austin and try out. She successfully lands a place on the team and becomes known as Babe Ruthless; her alter-ego. Being a member of the team gives her a second family and gives her the comfort of "fitting in".
I think the movie was very empowering and showed that women can be sexy and strong. It has comedy, betrayal, violence, love, envy and good family values that Bliss' character is eager to experience. Even guys will enjoy it - after all, what male doesn't want to watch hot girls in fishnet stockings brutalizing each other on the track?
I highly recommend watching this movie in theaters - it was definitely worth it. I will warn you though; the end of the movie does make you want to join a Roller Derby team, and if you have the same experience I did, you may have an actual Roller Derby team there trying to recruit you - I know I want to join now.
