2011
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Ellen Page stars as a disgruntled small-town beauty pageant teen who joins a roller derby league.
Liked
Girl power, charming characters.
Disliked
Predictable moments.
Thoughts
It was a fun film.
The best part was the charming characters. Ellen Page was adorable as usual, but she also excelled at portraying a likable misfit. All of the other female supporting actresses were winning too, especially the soon-to-breakout Kristen Wiig as one of Page's teammates. Granted it's been awhile since I've seen him onscreen, but I was shocked that I didn't recognize Daniel Stern as Page's goofy father. While there were many cool chicks, Andrew Wilson nearly stole the show as their caveman-looking coach.
It is rather sad that it's still hard to find quality "girl power" movies. This film succeeds pretty well. Not because roller derby is necessarily empowering, but because the story was filled with female characters who actually behave like normal humans. There were no ditzes, sexpots, or shopaholics, just mothers, daughters, best friends and teammates.
And just like male characters, they are also capable of being used by plot devices. I know I'm beating a dead horse when I declare an underdog movie to be predictable, but here we go again with the obligatory angry parent who nearly derails everything then shows up at the last minute of the big game and everyone learns a lesson.
It wasn't a great "girl power" film, but there needs to be more movies like this. Movies that don't turn females into set dressing or caricatures and can be empowering without being mushy/campy/preachy.
What I would change
Not sure.
