I haven’t seen Whip It since it was in the cinemas in 2009. Today, someone from work lent me the disc so I can go back and watch it as a derby girl. I’m a bit scared that I’m going to be critical of it. At the time I didn’t see the movie because of the roller derby theme; I didn’t even know what roller derby was. I went and saw the movie because I think Drew Barrymore is adorable (especially in the Charlie’s Angels, which I managed to relate to roller derby a while back) and I wanted to see what she could do as a director.
I really liked the movie by the way. I remember saying that I was glad the main character didn’t define herself by whether or not she had a boyfriend and that I was glad the romantic sub-plot remained “sub”. It was that evening that I discovered what roller derby was and that it existed in Australia too.
I’ve noticed since then that some derby girls are eager for people to know that they discovered roller derby independently of the movie. This chick, for example, says “The move Whip It! is not the reason why I want to play derby. I want to play because on the track, I can truly be me; aggressive, vengeful and predatory”. The amusing, slightly drunk ramblings of Malice Munro include the mildly defensive “And I know I was inspired to join derby because of Whip It. So the fuck what.”
These sentiments make me wonder if re-watching the film will ruin it for me. Like the time I watched Care Bears as an adult and realised it’s just a faded out goofy cartoon and not the sparkly, breathtakingly magical experience I remember from my childhood.
Should I watch it again or not? Vote below.
Diary of a Derby Wannabe 
Outrajess Edi
January 19, 2012
I watch it heaps! I have the biggest crush on Ellen page. And drew Barrymore. So in always too busy drooling to even notice the derby. Except for play three. =]
Sarah Marie
January 19, 2012
As a fellow Fresh Meat – It doesn’t matter how you got into derby, what matters is that you’re into it and you like it. I like the movie and I aint afraid to say it!
Akka
January 19, 2012
Ooh Snap! This has been on my mind all week… seeing with all my late night’s up and sleep-ins all day… I’ve had Whip It on my mind all week. I keep meaning to watch it, see what it’s like to watch it as a ‘derby girl’…
I think you should just watch it, I don’t think it’ll diminish your opinion of it as a movie, it might actually make you appreciate the undertones of the plot itself (about the journey of one girl ‘finding’ herself) a bit more… though on the flip side, seeing with your disappointment with the Care Bear ‘incident’ you may be more critical of the derby aspects… though dude, it’s a movie, it has poetic license… so just watch it 🙂
Eve Yllanside
January 19, 2012
Lol. You first!
Stephanie Mieras
January 20, 2012
They honestly do a fairly good job with it- there are only a few things they do that are not allowed- and I’m ok with that because it’s a movie. I was actually impressed with how good of a job following most of the rules they did.
I never watched it until AFTER I was in derby though- but I had only gone to like 3 practices, so I was super fresh meat still when I watched it.
CJ
January 20, 2012
Watch it for the chick flick it is, and because Juliette Lewis and Drew Barrymore are awesome actors,don’t watch it for the derby aspect, and have the cry like any good chick flick should result in.
Sherry
January 20, 2012
Go for it’s a great flick!
Sherry
January 20, 2012
Oh and forgot to mention that I love those skates 🙂
Carrie
January 20, 2012
I watched it again after getting into derby, and I liked it more than I had originally. It had been fine, but now I really enjoyed it.
Lacie
May 6, 2018
First off, OMG I HAD THOSE CAREBEAR SKATES. Such a big part of my childhood I LOVED to skate and I always have!!
Second, I too need to rewatch whip it, out of curiosity, given that I am uber-fresh and wanna see how accurate it is relating to the real thing. I watched it originally because I have had a fascination with roller derby ever since that reality show about it was on like…I don’t even know, 10 years ago? Then whip it came out so between those 2 things I’ve been totally wanting to play and finally at the beginning of this year I got to join a team!
In conclusion, watch it. 😊