Toon Talk: Stick It
Page 2 of 2
Missy Peregrym (Life as We Know It) stars as the rebellious tomboy Haley Graham, infamous in gym circles for walking out on the world championships. She spends her time hanging out with a couple of slackers (played by Kellan Lutz and John Patrick Amedori, responsible for most of the film’s juvenile humor) whose motocross antics land Haley in trouble with the law. Judge Polly “Flo�? Holliday sentences her to return to what surely is worse then any jail time for Haley: back to the viper’s nest of gymnastics, in the form of the Vickerman Gymnastics Academy, headed by hard-nosed coach Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges, playing it as gruff as he can with lines such as “go to the concessions stand and buy a new leotard�?). Vickerman is notorious for sending more girls to the hospital then the Olympics.
It is here that Haley is forced to make nice with her teammates (including the requisite rich-rhymes-with-witch Joanne, played with dimwitted wittiness by American Dreams’ Vanessa Lengies) and rediscover the hard-earned joys and disciplines of gymnastics, therefore learning the life lesson barely hinted at as the reason for this whole set up in the first place. Some substantialness is reached late in the film when Haley’s rebelliousness inspires a mini-revolt amongst her fellow gymnasts against the strict “by the rule book�? judges at the ever reliable setting for a sports movie climax, “the big meet�?, but by then it is too little too late.
(c) Disney
Stepping behind the camera as director for the first time, Bendinger attempts a “hyper reality�? approach to the story, with sped-up pacing and stylized fantasy segments (such as a composited Berkely-esque gym meet that comes off like a Fruitopia ad) that appear glib rather then clever. In all this rush to create a MTV-fueled audience pleaser, characters come and go, motivations are cobbled together out of thin air and characterizations are reduced to types, such as he goofy Asian gymnast who just wants to rock out.
But by far Stick It’s biggest liability is found in its central character. As played by Peregrym and written and directed by Bendinger, Haley is far from likeable. From the start, she hates her parents, hates her coach, hates the sport she is so obviously gifted at, so from the get go we don’t feel any empathy for her, just apathy. Her muddled turn from gloomy outsider to loyal teammate just doesn’t play, and as movie character’s from Chaplin’s tramp to Stallone’s Rocky have proved throughout the years, if you are going to make a movie about an “underdog�?, you better make them worth rooting for.
Toon Talk Rating: C
|
In this ‘Toon Talk’ feature, I will briefly highlight a recommended film or DVD, outside of the Disney universe, of similar interest to the main subject. Go, Girl, Go! Also written by Jessica Bendinger, Bring It On (2000, Universal) was a delightful surprise hit and one of the funniest and freshest sports comedies in years (yes, cheerleading is a sport). Kirsten Dunst, in her most winning performance to date, stars as the spunky new pep squad leader determined to get her team to the championships. Directed by Peyton Reed and co-starring Eliza Dushku, Gabrielle Union and Jesse Bradford. DVD available from Universal Home Entertainment. (By the way, skip the uninspired direct-to-video sequel Bring It On Again.) |
Coming Soon in Toon Talk:
- A group of Florida teens fight to save a flock of endangered owls in Hoot (New Line, May 5).
- Its soccer time in another Touchstone sports flick, Goal! The Dream Begins (May 12).
- An all-star cast voices a collection of suburban animals that go Over the Hedge in the latest from DreamWorks Animation (May 19).
Discuss It
Related Links
-- Kirby C. Holt
-- Logos by William C. Searcy, Magic Bear Graphics,
http://www.cafepress.com/MagicBear
Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted May 2, 2006