Viewed – 24 November 2010  Blu-ray

I’ve always had a fondness for Drew Barrymore, just a weird thing because she’s the same age as me and hey, she was cute in E.T.  I feel my movie love affair has grown up with her at the back of my mind.  But I digress.  This amiable coming of age sports drama marks Drew’s directing debut, and to say I’m impressed … well, read on…

Awkward, socially outcast Bliss (the brilliant Ellen Page), bored with her pushy Mom forcing her into embarrassing beauty pageants, signs up for the local roller derby team, an underdog group of rough and ready girls who despite never winning a game remain gutsy and fun-loving.  Caught up in the atmosphere and thrown into the spotlight after proving herself to be one of the fastest girls around, Bliss is soon lying to her parents and substituting her best friend for her new-found ‘family’.  At the same time she also gains the attention of a rival roller derby team, headed by a snarling, grimacing Juliette Lewis. 

This fun and feel good tale may follow the sports-movie formula to an obvious degree, but with a central performance from Page that cements her reputation as one of the best young stars out there, and with a sharp script full of quotable dialogue and heart warming moments, this is a perfectly enjoyable little movie.  The roller derby action is every bit as exciting and nail-biting as it should be, with Page showing off some mad skills, and the soundtrack is filled with quality rock / pop music.  Yes, it’s completely lacking in originality, and probably plays things  a little too safe, but taken on its own merits, and as Drew Barrymore’s directing debut, this remains well worth your time.

Verdict:  4 /5

Related Articles

• Barrymore goes the distance (bbc.co.uk)
• Roller derby provides a team workout (seattletimes.nwsource.com)