by Jane Louise Boursaw

Reel Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, including crude dialogue, language and drug material
Released in Theaters: Oct. 2, 2009
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Teens
Runtime: 111 minutes
Directed by: Drew Barrymore
Cast: Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Alia Shawkat, Daniel Stern, Jimmy Fallon, Kristen Wiig, Zoe Bell, Eve, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis

SYNOPSIS: In Bodeen, Texas, an indie-rock loving misfit named Bliss Cavender (Ellen Page) finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin. Unfortunately, her mother (Marcia Gay Harden) would rather she spend her time on the beauty pageant circuit.

Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 14 and older who like Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page, and/or movies about girls going for their dreams.

Will Parents Like It? It’s pretty intense for a PG-13 movie, but the message is good: follow your own dreams rather than someone else’s dreams. In short, be your own hero.

REVIEW: I’m a big fan of both Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page, so I’ve been looking forward to seeing this movie. It delivered in all the right areas – warmth, action, empowerment, and family – despite a few cliché storylines you could see coming a mile away.

The story follows Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page), a teenager living in the small town of Bodeen, Texas with her mom (Marcia Gay Harden), dad (Daniel Stern), and little sister. Bliss is an indie-rocker girl who works at a local barbecue diner, but her mom has never left behind her own experiences on the beauty pageant circuit. Thus, she wants her own daughters to follow in her footsteps.

Unfortunately, Bliss is the exact opposite of a beauty pageant girl. She’d rather wear army boots and Stryper t-shirts. While out shopping one day, she sees a group of girls wearing roller skates come into a store, and learns about the roller derby crowd in Austin. So Bliss sneaks away to Austin with her old Barbie skates and best friend Pash (Alia Shawkat), and ends up making the “Hurl Scouts” team and becoming “Babe Ruthless.”

The girls’ names are part of the whole roller derby game – including Smashley Simpson (Drew Barrymore), Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig), and Iron Maven (Juliette Lewis).

When Bliss suddenly becomes a star on the team, it causes some major anxiety because her parents don’t know about her secret life, and her teammates don’t know she’s underage (team members are supposed to be 21).

Ellen Page has the same quirky aura of her pregnant teen character in “Juno,” and you’re instantly rooting for her to “be her own hero” and break free of her mother’s dreams. The supporting cast is also terrific, and they look like they’re having a blast.

Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut is a great first, and while she hammers a few things home just a little too hard (including the drama of Bliss’ parents not wanting her to skate), she still manages to keep things loose. She has a great supporting cast to work with, including Alia Shawkat’s cool best friend character, Kristen Wiig’s sensitive tough-girl who helps Bliss through the rough spots, and Landon Pigg’s bad-boy rocker Oliver, Bliss’ first lover (she’s 17).

Because of some of the adult-oriented material, this movie is best for kids 14 and older. But it’s a great girl-power flick, and the roller derby action makes you want to pick up some skates on your way home from the theater.

JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance journalist specializing in the movie and television industries. Visit her online at www.filmgecko.com, www.ReelLifeWithJane.com or email jboursaw@charter.net.