So
to give this one a fair run, I did the only thing any normal male could
do in order to tolerate the possibility of watching a movie about
Gymnastics for just over 90 minutes - get some snacks, a doona and the
girlfriend and find out how the movie plays to someone who it's aimed
directly at! I've always been one that feels that a movies quality should be based on genre - in that Ace Ventura and Schindler's List
are the two best films ever made. "How can you even compare the two?" I
hear a few of you ponder. Well, you can't compare the two against each
other, but they are both the best at what they do in their particular
genre. Also - it would be weird if Liam Neeson talked out of his butt,
or Jim Carrey began shooting Jews. So what's it all about? Haley
Graham (the amazingly cute and fit Missy Peregrym) is a former
gymnast-turned-juvenile delinquent whom, after one too many run-ins
with the law, is forced to enroll at an elite gymnastics academy, which
is run by the legendary Olympic gymnast Burt Vickerman (an oddly cast
Jeff Bridges). But the rebellious Haley is not welcomed into the
academy by the other teenage gymnasts whom despise her for walking out
on her Junior Olympic team years earlier during a competition which
cost them the gold medal. But Haley is not a docile person either and
makes every effort to provoke conflicts with the other girls (Haley's
ability to annoy cohort Joanne works a treat). Vickerman takes it upon
himself to coach Haley in his own way to make her regain her self
respect for the VGA's coming spot on the Gymnastic Nationals. It's pretty stock standard in terms of plot, but no one expects it to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
And I'm almost afraid to admit it, but I didn't mind it. There is
enough clever and impressive choreographed dance moves in there to keep
the girls happy - and there is more than enough eye candy for any of
the boyfriends who have no doubt been coaxed into watching this as
payment for a late night snuggle after the flick.
It seemed to lack some of the out and out humour and tension of the other films of it's ilk (the aforementioned Bring It On or Centre Stage) but what it lacks in action, Stick It more
than makes up for in it's soundtrack. The producers have clearly made
an effort in that area, with each song getting louder and louder with
each "I'm slowly getting better at gymnastics" montage. But it works
and keep the flick moving at a pretty reasonable pace. When it comes
down to it, Stick It is just an easy bit of viewing,
inoffensive and perfect for one of those Friday nights when no one in
the group can decide whether to hire out an ultra girly flick, or a
horror flick. But, at the end of the day, they movie wasn't made
for me - or for the uptight art critics - it was made for the girl
sitting next to me with a handful of popcorn and a smile on her face.
So what was her final and succinct verdict? "It wasn't as good a Bring It On, but it was pretty good". Take that David Stratton! EXTRAS I'm
assuming this one was put on the fast track to DVD as all we are really
left with is a trailer for the film. It would have been nice to see
some of the behind the scenes on some of the gymnastics moves, but hey,
you can't have everything! Conclusion:
Movie 70% Extras: 20%
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