Garota Fantástica

A film about those confusing and painful growing-up years. Similar to "Juno" in some ways but I liked this more. Portrays a girls search for meaning and acceptance with honesty and heart. While she does go against her parents wishes, rebellion is not glorified like I thought it would be. A thoughtful comedy

I really enjoyed this movie and it's one of those movies that you can only explain as that; an enjoyable movie. It's blissful in a way of how it doesn't have a lot of astonishing aspects of it visually but when you start watching you can't stop. Me and my family watched this in a hotel for the first time as we scrolled through the channels and when we stopped on this one we kind of all just left it there without saying much. Everyone was easily engaged and thankfully we started it from the relative beginning. It just has a natural feel to that draws me in, my family, and hopefully others as well. It isn't trying to be anything; it's not arthouse neither is it a cliche comedy, it's just a good movie and a very enjoyable one to watch with really funny jokes and dialogue and characters who give off the correct tones that the director was going for.

Great watch, would watch again, and can recommend.

I've actually been to some of the Austin locations and seen that roller rink: it's a pretty cool place with a powerful vibe to the room.

I've really had enough of pagentry, it just feels very boring, so maybe it was the perfect way to start this movie. It's a very cliche "I don't want your life" beginning, but grounding the establishing act in that foundation really takes us on a journey of growth in this "finding of self" (possibly a "coming of age", but no really) story. When something grabs our interests, even on a weird flyer, or a pair of skates, we should pay attention, and the smaller the thing is that calls out to you, the more you should pay attention.

Roller derby is a bad ass little sport, and maybe "no one gets famous" or "successful" from it, but it looks fun and I'm sure the people that do it love it. While the roller derby aspect is great, and the romantic plot lines are good, and the best friend angle is really good (just realizing how multi-threaded this movie actually is), it is the self discovery, the character growth of Bliss (thanks to Ellen Page's powerful delivery) of being a person that we can barely hear, to being someone how is able to yell for what she wants, delivery a hit, and be a literal poster child.

The movie honestly makes me envious: while I'd like to be an attractive tough girl, sure, to find a passion while you still have time to enough to enjoy it, to find people to guide and support that passion, and then compete and find adversity from people twice your age is an amazing thing all to itself.

I'll never be a "roller derby girl", but I know I can always come live vicariously through this movie.

Drew Barrymore created a stunning film with Shauna Cross's script, and you would never know it was her first time directing. The characters and story are so well crafted and there's never a dull moment. I love the way this movie feels nostalgic and makes you remember that time in your life where you're trying to figure out who you are, and you have that one best friend that gets you through the tough times. I'm impressed by the actresses' skating abilities and making this all look so natural to them. Marcia Gay Harden is total perfection as Bliss Cavendar's mother, bringing such a realness to her character, and Ellen Page and Alia Shawkat have realistic chemistry that pulls you into their friendship. This isn't a raunchy movie and I find it totally enjoyable. I can watch this movie over and over and I never get sick of it - it's become a classic for sure!

Enticed by free t-shirts and comfortable seats, two of my friends and I made the journey to Alexandria last Saturday to catch the sneak Preview of Whip It. Upon our arrival, our expectations were not high, as none of us were fans of Drew Barrymore.

Once the movie began, however, our opinions quickly changed. Drew Barrymore may not be the best actor, but she definitely has chops at directing. Whip It is the tale of a girl who hates life in a small town so she decides to rebel by joining a roller derby team with often comedic results. The movie is much better than plot may sound. It has some cliché moments but definitely beats the standard chick flick.

The film had a very unique feel, shifting between humorous and hipster-esquire scenes. This also was probably my biggest problem with the movie. The comedy often reminded me of something out of an Owen Wilson film but then the dramatic scenes reminded me of something more hip than Juno. That being said, the movie was much funnier than the average chick flick.

Ellen Page is superb as usual, taking on a somewhat different role than what I've seen before. It's impossible to compare her to her role in Juno, as in Whip It she plays a much more introverted, but still conflicted girl.

Andrew Wilson was probably the funniest character in the movie. I'm actually wondering where this guy came from. The other two Wilson brothers are huge and this guy just comes out of nowhere. Hopefully we'll see more of him, as he is just as funny as Owen and Luke.

Drew Barrymore had a very small role in the movie. The few scenes she is in are certainly not ruined by her. Landon Pigg should probably stick to music, or maybe even quit that because he sucks at that. He is not an actor, and that was prevalent throughout the movie. Jimmy Fallon provided a solid array of one-liners as the quirky announcer for the games.

The rest of the cast was solid, including Marcia Gay Harden as the strict but loving mother. Juliette Lewis is good as the over-the-top, intense player who takes things way too seriously. Alia Shawkat I couldn't stand but I just can't stand her in general.

This movie definitely goes far beyond what any average chick flick would. In fact it's hard to classify it as such, as I found it good and I'm a dude. All things considered it's definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of hip movies or just comedy in general.