STICK IT

Starring:
Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym, Vanessa Lengies, Nikki SooHoo, Maddy Curley, Kellan Lutz and John Patrick Amedori

Writer/Director:
Jessica Bendinger

Running Time:
103 mins

Out to buy on DVD 12/02/07

"Let's decide for ourselves"

After been in trouble with law one to many times, Haley Graham (Peregrym) is given two choices one is military school or the other is VGA, an elite gymnastics school ran by Burt Vickerman (Bridges). Two years earlier Haley had walked away from the World championships and her name became dirt in the gymnastic community but now she has the choice of either competing or going to jail.

You could probably name the films about gymnastics on one hand but can 'Stick It' make you give it a perfect '10'?

From the makers of hit cheerleading film 'Bring It On', 'Stick It' mixes modern music, a rebellious protagonist and a sport that might not be the most popular in the world. The dedication and skill of world class gymnasts has never been in question, it is the amount of time needed to become good enough to compete at a national, international or Olympic level that means the girls have nothing outside of the gym. This of course has comic potential.

The story of a kid who gets herself into trouble with the law and is then sent to the place that she hates the most is nothing new in movies but instead of been sent to a military academy or juvenile detention she gets sent to Burt Vickerman's Gymnastic Academy (VGA). Haley is your usual trouble causer. She loves to graffiti tag and ride her BMX, as she rebels against her divorced parents and the sport that they pushed her into, gymnastics. The problem is that when she started to rebel she did it by walking out on the USA team at the World Championship, so returning to the sport she so sensationally left behind was really going to be a punishment.

Much like 'Bring It On', there is a strong cast of up and coming actresses that are about to hit it big. Leading the line is Missy Peregrym, who is as beautiful as she is talented. As Hayley she turns a very stereotypical character into one that extremely watchable and easy to get behind. Vanessa Lengies really has fun as the gym bitch Joanne, who is a little stupid and hates Hayley for what she did to the USA team. Nikki SooHoo and Maddy Curley look like they are really enjoying playing Wei Wei and Mina. Each of the girls are also extremely good when it comes to portraying the skills of their gymnastic characters. Jeff Bridges' interesting career choices continue but he is as good as ever in role that he looks like he is enjoying.

'Stick It' definitely has a target audience and it is them that will get the most out of the movie because it is quite enjoyable. Writer/director Jessica Bendinger certainly hits the mat running and injects some originality into the sports film by not having the obvious ending, as well as shooting the gymnastics in very creative ways. This is definitely a film for gymnastics fans and young people who are looking for that perfect ten.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1, the movie is presented well.

BONUS FEATURES

Trailers
Previews of 'High School Musical' and 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - Special Edition'

OVERALL

The complete lack of extras for 'Stick It' will come a real disappointment for fans of the movie, especially when the North American version what packed to the brim with them. It is not acceptable that Region 2 fans have to miss out on all the extras that other regions around the world can enjoy.

DVD

Bring it on


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2006