There is so much to like about this movie that you can easily overlook some of the minor hiccups. WhipIt is a look into the life of bored teenagers in a small Texas town and how they try to escape their current existence and find meaning and purpose in their lives.
Ellen Page and Marsha Gay Hardin give stellar performances that will be remembered come awards time. The directing needs some polishing but I can't understand why a first time director would chose to act in the same movie. Drew Barrymore makes some great choices--especially having the guts to let the actors act without dialogue while the camera continues to roll. The effect forces the audience to concentrate on the physical aspects of the performance and it is quite effective. The tension that develops from this lack of dialogue hovers in the air until something is done. Some of the editing leaves a little bit to be desired and the driving scene to Austin with Bliss and Pash is shot so unbelievably badly that you think of the old time sitcoms (e.g., Lucy and Ricky Ricardo on the way to California). I don't know if they ran out of money or if the shot was done post-production, but regardless--it is very amateurish.
If you enjoyed Juno, or movies about teenage angst, or movies about the country kid who makes it good, or movies about mothers and daughters, or movies about daughters and fathers, then you will love this movie.
I rate this movie one watch
Viewed on October 3, 2009 at AMC Empire25 Theaters (NYC).
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