Hey J-14ers!

If you put me on roller skates, I can guarantee that I'll be down on the ground in no time -- which is part of the reason I was so intrigued by the roller derby movie, Whip It.

Thanks to Acuvue, I was lucky enough to catch a special early screening at the ultra-cool Bryant Park Hotel -- and walked out feeling totally empowered like I could do anything!

Bliss (love her name!) is a small-town girl who has followed her mom's desires of doing pageants. She goes through the motions of doing one after another, like a puppet on a string -- until she happens to see a flyer for a roller derby league and sneaks out of the house to check it out.

It's love at first sight for Bliss -- who decides to try out for the team, The Hurl Scouts (ha!). She can hardly believe she makes the elite team -- not only do her teammates teach her to toughen up, but she also realizes this is something she's truly good at -- and passionate about. Although she has to keep it from her parents, everything in her life seems to come together -- she even lands a hottie boy... until an important roller derby match falls on the same day as a big pageant.

It's not just a girl power movie on screen -- it's just as powerful behind the scenes. One of my all-time fave gals, Drew Barrymore, makes her directorial debut with this movie -- and stars in it. And Juno (one of my fave flicks!) star Ellen Page plays the rebelliously lovable Bliss. As much as I wish that my
a-dork-able crush Michael Cera played her love interest again, I was so shocked -- and impressed -- when I realized the guy was singer Landon Pigg! Talk about a rockin' cast!

So grab your fave friends and head out to the theater to get inspired -- and get ready to Whip It!

And of course, tell us what you think about it!

Can't wait to hear from you!
Rachel
J-14 Editor

Photo: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight