Whip It (2009)

CW: deadname on poster  I swear, Elliot Page just gets cuter in everything I see him in.  That shouldn't even be possible but he's just so adorable. 

Bliss (Elliot Page) is a mousy teen from a nowhere town in Texas who stumbles into the wild world of roller derby women.  Her mother (Marcia Gay Harden) wants her to be a pageant queen and her dad (Daniel Stern) just wants everyone to get along.  But Bliss is determined to live her own life.  Aided by her friend Pash (Alia Shawkat), Bliss joins the Hurl Scouts, a rough and tumble group of ladies including Smashley Simpson (Drew Barrymore), Bloody Holly (Zoe Bell), Rosa Sparks (Eve) and team captain Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig) as they go up against their rivals, the Holy Rollers, led by the nasty Iron Maven (Juliette Lewis).  Everything seems to be going fine for Bliss, until it doesn't, and she has to face grown-up consequences.

Everybody involved in this movie looks like they had a blast doing it.  It's clear that this was a passion project for Barrymore, especially since this was her directorial debut.  The relationships between all the female characters bear a loving stamp that brings out the best in each actress.  I've never been a fan of Marcia Gay Harden in anything I've seen her in, but she nails Pageant Mom and Kristen Wiig totally made up for her performance in Bridesmaids by being in this movie.  I had bought it on a whim because I read that the critics were giving it positive reviews and I absolutely do not regret that decision.    By all means, rent it first and if you like it as much as I did, pick up a copy.