Whip It (2009)

All Critics (180) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (152) | Rotten (28) | DVD (11)

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.

April 8, 2010 Full Review

David Jenkins

Time Out

Top Critic

Barrymore's Irresistible 'Whip It': 'Kansas City Bomber' Crossed with 'Gidget'

October 18, 2009 Full Review

Joe Baltake

Passionate Moviegoer

Top Critic

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

October 14, 2009 Full Review | Comments (7)

Richard Roeper

Richard Roeper.com

Top Critic

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

October 2, 2009 Full Review

Elizabeth Weitzman

New York Daily News

Top Critic

For the most part, the 34-year-old Barrymore, with much of her life spent in front of the camera and more than a few impressive producing credits already in the bank, proves steady on her feet, able to handle curves and straightaways with equal grace.

October 2, 2009 Full Review

Betsy Sharkey

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

Love may be too strong a word, for me. But I'm deeply in like with Whip It.

October 2, 2009 Full Review | Comment (1)

Amy Biancolli

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

Led by Ellen Page, the movie finds the Juno star playing a slightly less cocksure version of the Diablo Cody creation.

July 14, 2011 Full Review

Simon Reynolds

Digital Spy

Juliette Lewis and her crazy eyes pretty much make any movie better.

April 4, 2011 Full Review

Dave White

Movies.com

[Whip It] treats its mostly female cast of characters with respect, and this is (sadly) a rare treat in cinema. Hannah Montana may be this generation's Spice Girl, but Bliss Cavender is the one really waving the 'girl power' flag.

October 27, 2010 Full Review

Simon Miraudo

Quickflix

It doesn't reach for an epic scale but is comfortable in its humility, and that makes it all the more stellar...

August 22, 2010 Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Barrymore is just as determined to land some insightful and unexpected dramatic punches as she is with the inherent physical comedy for which the sport is renowned.

August 10, 2010 Full Review

Simon Foster

sbs.com.au

What impresses is the girl power spirit often prevalent in Barrymore's work, but also a its sense of optimism and warm heart.

July 4, 2010

Cris Kennedy

Screenwize

A surprisingly energetic, provoking and entertaining coming of age story.

May 22, 2010 Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Slight narrative arc notwithstanding, there's a lot of warmth here.

April 21, 2010 Full Review

Michael Bonner

Uncut Magazine [UK]

Whip It follows the classic follows the classic tropes of any indie coming-of-age film, big game showdown et al, but does it all so well you'll be instantly charmed.

April 15, 2010 Full Review

Sam Bathe

Fan The Fire

Unlike most Hollywood teen product, here fulfilment comes not from what others think of you but from what you think of yourself. In short, it's Girl Power reinvented.

April 15, 2010 Full Review

David Edwards

Daily Mirror [UK]

Like the roller derby girls splayed out on the rink, Barrymore's film is frequently all over place but it manages to stay on its feet at the end. Just.

April 15, 2010 Full Review

Alistair Harkness

Scotsman

Part underdog sports flick, part coming-of-ager, Whip It! trades on familiar formulaics, yet Shauna Cross' smart script (based on her novel) keeps things fresh and funny.

April 15, 2010 Full Review

Rosie Fletcher

Total Film

The picture's heart is very much in the right place, with the characters all affectionately drawn, but boy does it drag, while efforts at raucous humour (drunkenness, a food fight) fall flat.

April 13, 2010 Full Review

Henry Fitzherbert

Daily Express

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.

April 9, 2010 Full Review

Xan Brooks

Guardian [UK]

With Page easily handling what little dramatic weight there is, the support players are free to focus on being funny, and they give it their all.

April 8, 2010 Full Review

Paul Gallagher

Future Movies UK

Although there's nothing original about it, and although it's handled competently rather than with breathtaking élan, it's almost impossible to dislike...

April 8, 2010 Full Review

Sukhdev Sandhu

Daily Telegraph

Sure, Whip It is clichéd, slight and formulaic, but it still has enough charm and wit to keep us entertained. And it's packed with girl power.

April 8, 2010 Full Review

Roz Laws

Birmingham Post

As a sports movie and as a mixed-up teen flick, it keeps taking unexpected turns, and unlike so many in the former genre, remembers there's more to sport dramas than just winning.

April 8, 2010 Full Review

Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

If the film were any more brainless, it would be a lump of rock. But if it were any less brainless, it might be less fun.

April 8, 2010 Full Review | Comments (2)

Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

• 1. Bliss Cavendar: I would have called.
  – Submitted by B.J. S (11 months ago)
• 1. Smashley Simpson: God damnit Dianne!
  – Submitted by James H (22 months ago)
• 1. Earl Cavendar: I can take losing the money. I cannot take loosing the chance for our kid to be happy.
  – Submitted by Nasrullah A (2 years ago)
• 1. Bliss Cavendar: Screw you and your grandmother's Chevy Celebrity!
  – Submitted by Chris P (2 years ago)
• 1. Earl Cavendar: I like smart girls. That's why I married your mama. Well, that and I knocked her up.
  – Submitted by Chris P (2 years ago)

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