Whip It

The hard-edged world of women’s roller derby provides the setting for the coming-of-age tale “Whip It” (Fox Searchlight). Rather than serving as a forum for feminist self-expression, as first-time director Drew Barrymore seems to intend, the rough and tumble of the showcased competition — with its skimpy outfits and bruising smackdowns calculated to delight boorish male fans — comes across as more exploitative than empowering.

Throwing herself into this ostensibly liberating underground sport is restless small-town Texas high school student Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page). Since her strong-willed, socially ambitious mother Brooke’s (Marcia Gay Harden) fondest wish for Bliss is that she become the queen of the local beauty pageant circuit, Bliss carefully conceals her new enthusiasm both from Mom and from her amiable but henpecked father Earl (Daniel Stern).

With the support of her best friend Pash (Alia Shawkat), and despite not having skated since she was a little girl, Bliss gains a spot on an Austin-based team known as the Hurl Scouts, becoming the protege of their captain, Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig). As her skills improve and her star rises, Bliss — who now goes by the moniker Babe Ruthless — discovers romance, falling for derby fan and local rock singer Oliver (Landon Pigg) whom she meets at one of the Scouts’ matches.

Barrymore’s genre-blending debut — partly a sports drama and a romantic comedy as well as a chronicle of teen maturation — in which she plays Smashley Simpson, another of Bliss’ colorfully nicknamed teammates, is buoyed by heartfelt performances from its principals.

But, though Shauna Cross’ script, adapted from her own novel of the same title, has Bliss grapple with the negative consequences of premature freedom — and come to a better appreciation of her parents — it also, at least partially, glamorizes her irresponsible sexual experimentation.

The film contains nongraphic nonmarital underage sexual activity, brief partial nudity, underage drinking, occasional irreverence, a few uses of profanity, some sexual humor and references, about a dozen crude terms and much crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Courtesy of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

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