| I really thought this
film was going to be DREADFUL. I had no hope for it whatsoever.
The only reason it peaked my interest was the inclusion of Jeff
Bridges, who is usually pretty good, and the prospect of seeing girls in leotards. Instead, I got a film with quite a few
laughs, and a clichéd sports comeback drama that took some original
angles and focused on some interesting characters. Now, I am not
going to claim that this film demands a trip to the theatre or an
appointment on DVD. It is clearly not anything to go out of your
way to see. However, it is far better than it appears on the
surface and will probably be a pleasant surprise when you stumble
across it on TV a few years from now.
Missy Peregrym plays Haley Graham, a gymnast who, after a run-in
with the authorities, is forced to return to the squad she abandoned
right before the National Championships. The film ventures into
clichéd territory right of the bat with that premise as she arrive
back with a rebellious attitude toward the team and the coach.
However, Peregrym manages to embody a character we can be interested
in. She is not goody-two-shoes, nor is she flatly unlovable.
Bridges is stoically solid in his roll as the coach who won't take
any crap from the girls and pushes them to the limits. However,
he is also able to have fun with the team and you can believe that he
is able to create chemistry in the occasionally bitchy squad.
The only real problem that I had with the film, other than its
utter inconsequentiality, was the decision to break into MTV-style
musical montages and camera angles. It is such a tired technique
and made the film feel very "early-nineties".
"Stick It" ventures down an odd path in the final act, virtually
switching the focus of the film from the girls themselves to the sport
of gymnastics as a whole. That shift slightly distracts from the
final resting place of the character arcs. All sports-movie
clichés are avoided in the final act... That is something to be
thankful for.
Once again, the film and its charismatic cast delivers a fresh take
on generic genre. Writer and director, Jessica Bendinger,
creates a film that reminds me of her earlier effort, "Bring It On". We get a glimpse of some interesting
characters in the grueling world of competitive gymnastics. The
athleticism, humor and originality of the film make it a very pleasant
surprise.
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