Whip It

2009

Whip It

Critics Consensus

While made from overly familiar ingredients, Drew Barrymore's directorial debut has enough charm, energy, and good-natured humor to transcend its many cliches.

84%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 186

74%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 113,972

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Whip It Photos

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Movie Info

Bliss is a rebellious Texas teen who throws in her small-town beauty pageant crown for the rowdy world of roller derby.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (for sexual content including crude dialogue, language and drug material)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Drew Barrymore
  • Written By:
    Shauna Cross
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $13,000,000
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Fox Searchlight Pictures

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Cast

Ellen Page
as Bliss Cavendar
Drew Barrymore
as "Smashley Simpson"
Juliette Lewis
as "Iron Maven"
Kristen Wiig
as "Maggie Mayhem"
Marcia Gay Harden
as Brooke Cavendar
Daniel Stern
as Earl Cavendar
Alia Shawkat
as Pash Amini
Landon Pigg
as Oliver
Andrew Wilson
as Coach "Razor"
Jimmy Fallon
as "Hot Tub" Johnny Rocket
Zoe Bell
as "Bloody Holly"
Eve
as "Rosa Sparks"
Ari Graynor
as "Eva Destruction"
Eulala Scheel
as Shania Cavendar
Carlo Alban
as Birdman
Kristen Adolfi
as Manson Sister #1
Nina Kircher
as Trudy
Rachel Piplica
as Manson Sister #2
Doug Minckewicz
as Colby
Mary Callaghan Lynch
as Val
Sarah Habel
as Corbi
Shannon Eagen
as Amber
Edward Austin Kelly
as Pageant Coordinator
Barbara Coven
as Pageant Mother
Michael Petrillo
as Poindexter
Sean O'Reilly
as Colby's Friend #2
Sam Zikakis
as Colby's Friend #3
Rusty Mewha
as Holy Rollers Coach
Will Brick
as Referee
Madge Levinson
as Helen
Alexis O'Neill
as Pocket Rocket
Eli Bleiler
as Jaba the Slut
Kristen 'Krissy Krash' Adolfi
as Manson Sister #1
Rachel 'Iron Maiven' Piplica
as Manson Sister #2
Claudia Rogers
as Mrs. Weaver
Latasha Pippen
as Juana Beat'n
Sydney Bennett
as Kami Kaze
Danny Mooney
as Smashley's Fiancé
Mark Boyd
as Ronny
Brent Kyle
as Savage
Har Mar Superstar
as Fight Attendants Coach
Claudia Rodgers
as Mrs. Weaver
Wallace Bridges
as Cop #1
Patrick Moug
as Terrifying Cop
John Lepard
as Cop #2
Austin Bickel
as Riley
Kent Cummins
as Atomic City Clerk #1
Sarah Yaeger
as Atomic City Clerk #2
Chloe Truehart
as Atomic City Girl #1
Kyle 'Black Eyed Skeez' Kentala
as Atomic City Girl #2
Genevieve Harrison
as Atomic City Girl #3
John Eatherly
as Oliver's "Turbo Fruits" Band Mate
Jonas Stein
as Oliver's "Turbo Fruits" Band Mate
Max Peebles
as Oliver's "Turbo Fruits" Band Mate
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Critic Reviews for Whip It

All Critics (186) | Top Critics (39)

  • Drew Barrymore makes her directing debut with a join-the-dots sports outing that's so brightly played - and so essentially sweet-natured - that its manifest cliches come up smelling of fresh paint.

    Apr 9, 2010 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Xan Brooks

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • Deftly moderating her patented eye-rolling poseur shtick, Page delivers her most charismatic and least divisive performance to date as Bliss Cavendar, aka Babe Ruthless.

    Apr 8, 2010 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    David Jenkins

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • It's just "Footloose" goes to the roller derby.

    Oct 14, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/5

    Richard Roeper

    Richard Roeper.com
    Top Critic

  • Surprisingly touching moments of realisation and emotional connection manage to rise above the dramatic cliches that pepper the rest of the film and account for the best scenes in Whip It. Next to all the punch-ups on the track, that is.

    Oct 8, 2009 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Jim Schembri

    The Age (Australia)
    Top Critic

  • One of the best girl casts of the year. You don't leave wanting to pick up the DVD, but you do want to pick up a set of dumbbells.

    Oct 5, 2009 | Rating: C | Full Review…

    Amy Nicholson

    I.E. Weekly
    Top Critic

  • It's that happiest of surprises: a multiplex movie that genuinely respects its young audience.

    Oct 2, 2009 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Elizabeth Weitzman

    New York Daily News
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (186)

Audience Reviews for Whip It

  • May 23, 2014
    Page is brilliant and the characters are well developed. didn't expect to like this but I'm super impressed and can't recommend this one any more.
    Brendan N Super Reviewer
  • May 18, 2014
    It's obscurely humorous and heartfelt. Drew Barrymore's directorial debut is impressive and awkwardly stylish. Whip It supplies just enough in its envisioning tale and overall attitude to make this an intriguing coming-of-age story. 4/5
    Eugene B Super Reviewer
  • Mar 09, 2013
    A really cute directional debut from Drew Barrymore, it's a coming of age film about a young girl finding her real passion, juggling between her parents' expectation and her own determination. Like any typical flowers production, it's got many great characters, nice plot, fine soundtracks and great dialogues. The romantic subplot was unnecessary, but still nicely fitted in.
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
  • Jan 28, 2012
    Whip It have a nice team of actors, especially the 'return' of Daniel Stern. Drew Barrymore's debut in direction, however bring cliches of a typical teen romantic comedy and make her movie look a mix of 'Juno', 'Footloose' and 'Thank God It's Friday'.
    Lucas M Super Reviewer
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