Stick It

Review by Clint Morris

They can turn, flip, jump, reshuffle, change the line-up, add some bounce, add an interesting new manoeuvre, a twist or two – but it doesn’t change the fact that we’ve seen Stick It before. If the stomach’s growling, the blood-sugar’s low, and the carrier’s happy with anything that’ll ‘fill the spot’, it’s a nice-serving of comfort food, all the same.

She’s a tough-as-nails, BMX-riding, hoon. He’s a grizzled-old coach who pushes his gymnastics students until their bloomers rip. Guess whose about to be forced into re-entering the world of gymnastics, having given it up all those years before? Guess who’s going to be the man to take her to the championships?

As clichéd and repetitive as a lot of it will seem, the one thing that does stand about the film is how well written it is. Writer – and director – Jessica Bendinger (Bring it On) seems to know her audience – she’s down with the lingo, up with the teen troubles, and most importantly, well versed in what will make ‘em laugh. It helps yank the film from the shallow end to, well, closer towards the deeper end.

Besides the always-solid Jeff Bridges – still confused why he felt he needed to do this, though – there’s a talented line-up of fresh femmes playing our leotard-adorned assemblage. Missy Peregrym – who, I think, looks a lot like Hilary Swank, especially in her Next Karate Kid phase – is the standout, bringing spice, spark and likeability to the role of our female protagonist. Having only done bit parts on TV up till now, it’s amazing how well Peregrym carries the movie. She’s like a removalist carrying the biggest load, on her first day on the job, and she pulls it off beautifully.

What most of the audience will have come to see though, is gymnastics, and there’s plenty of that. Make my words: memberships to the local gymnastics school are bound to swell once this flick spreads throughout the orb.

It is just another movie. It is something you’ve all seen before. Yet, the writing and performances help make it one of the better films of its type. She hasn’t quite earned the nickname ‘Joan Hughes’, quite yet, but Jessica Bendinger’s on her way to it…that’s for sure.

3 out of 5

Stick It
Australian release: 15th June, 2006
Cast: Missy Peregrym, Vanessa Lengies, Jeff Bridges, Nikki SooHoo, Maddy Curley
Director: Jessica Bendinger
Website: Click here.