Customer Reviews

Stick It

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews of this movie. I rented this last night to watch with my mom and we both really enjoyed it. Neither one of us are gymnasts (or under 13 for that matter) or even cared that much for bring it on, but Stick It was extremely likeable nonetheless.

Overall, my favorite thing about the movie is in the witty commentary and the humor that the movie sticks in very appropriately. I think Hayley was just hilarious, whether she was talking or thinking. She has a rather darkly sarcastic humor, but its very tasteful and witty. The not-so-smart Johann, complimenting the role of the bitchy teammate originally, gives a lot of comedic relief as well [Mina - "She got her GED when she was 15"
Johann - "What does drunk driving have to do with any of this?"]. Mina and Wei-Wei are somewhat minor characters but I can't help but find them a little bit entertaining even by their casual expressions, the actresses did an excellent job making them seem minor but still multi-dimensional enough to be amusing and loveable.

It was also a pleasant surprise that nearly all of the girls in this film are actually showed as being very strong and athletic. One reviewer said that the practice sessions were hard to watch, but I thought the opposite. If they skipped the practice sessions a huge part of the movie would have been taken away and detracted from its ultimate message. I enjoyed the practice sessions, it's not every day that you see teen girls embracing their strength and the girls were so much more attractive than the food deprived models that seem to run the media otherwise. I mentioned before, and I'll say it again that I do not do gymnastics and I don't think I ever will. However, I definitely found this movie inspiring, and I have a lot of respect for these athletes in the shape they must achieve to compete.

And as for what age group would enjoy this ... I definitely think it appeals to a wide spectrum. My mom and I were originally watching this but both my older brother and my younger brother were intrigued before the end and came to watch as well. I'm 16, my brothers are 13 and 18, and my mom is... well, yeah mommy age. But it doesn't take a certain gender or age to enjoy this movie.

Ok, so as some have already pointed out, this is not 'Bring it On', and I will admitt that walking into the film my wife and I were excited for the potential this film had to be the next 'Bring it On'...but seriously, who needs another 'Bring it On'? So, with that said, this movie is still in the same vein as it's predecesor, but has enough of a difference to stand out on it's own. The story here revolves around Haley Graham, played by newcomer Missy Peregrym, as she's forced to join VGA after one too many run-in's with the law. Haley has crumby parents who are now divorced and don't support her in anything she does, nor do they show any care or concern about her well being. Actually it's seems as if they just want her out of their hair. Haley's worst fear is returning to the world of gymnastic's for after she walked out of the World Championships leaving her team mates in the dust she's become regionally hated by her peers, and now she has to train with them. Worse yet is her new coach, Burt Vickerman (Bridges) who's harder on her than she'd like, but as she soon realizes, he's battling the same ground she is for he's in love with a sport that doesn't love him back. In the world of gymnastic's Vickerman is what you'd call 'washed up', and has-been if you will and so he must resort to lying to potential clients in order to get girls to train. The film itself may be a bit of a cliche but it has enough wit and humor to make the film worth your attention, and like 'Bring it On' I see this film making stars out of it's stars. Maybe 'Stick It' will do for Missy Peregrym what 'Bring it On' did for Kirsten Dunst...The film does try to convey a heartfelt morale of a message, and it works to a degree, but the best reason to see this film is for the quick wit and humor. 'Bring it On' it may not be but 'Stick It' still works like a charm.

"Stick It" had tough competition right out of the gates. Written and directed by "Bring It On" writer, Jessica Bendinger, everyone expected something along the same lines as that cheerleading comedy which, as time has passed, has become rather tired and corny. In all honesty, I feel that "Stick It" has potential to remain a solid film long after "Bring It On" has begun to gather dust on the DVD shelf.

In "Stick It," the very unlikeable Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) winds up in court and her only options to stay out of jail are Texas Military Academy or VGA, Vickerman Gymnastics Academy, headed up by Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges). You see, Graham has a past in the gymnastics world, and she isn't welcomed very warmly, especially by her new teammates. Graham is obnoxious, selfish, and pretty much a brat. But as the film progresses and we begin to see more layers peel off of Graham's fake tough outer shell, we realize that she isn't all that terrible.

The climax of the film is very unbelievable, but it works in the format that it's presented in. Bridges and Peregrym play off of each other very well, and you eventually hope to see both succeed in the end. The supporting cast is wonderful, especially Peregrym's gymnastics mates, Joanna (Vanessa Lengies), Wei Wei (Nikki SooHoo), and Mina (Maddy Curley). These three alone are worth watching this film. Hopefully they will all have solid future careers.

Overall, this film is sort of formulaic, but it has just enough edge and just enough comedy to keep it from going stale. It fortunately tones down some of the silliness that plagued "Bring It On," and finds a decent balance between giddy teen fun and decent drama. The gymnastics sequences are nice to watch, but it's the training sequences that can become painful to see.

Mildly recommended to fans of teen comedy, but for those who enjoy decent drama/comedy, this is a definite flick to watch.

As I sat down to watch "Stick It," I had a pretty good idea that we were going to cover some fairly conventional territory. And I was right, to a degree. Rebellious teen....check. Underdog sports story....check. Finding acceptance....check. When just about every film made about the world of sports falls into a familiar pattern, the genre itself has become something of a cliche'. That's not to say all sports films are bad, but few hold any real surprise. "Stick It," for all its limitations, does at least attempt something different. For in its climactic moments, the film is not only glorifying teamwork, friendship, and individual responsibility (as you would expect)--it is also serving as a critique of the oft maligned scoring system practiced in the field of gymnastics. Yes, this slight tale starts to take on elements of rebellion and unity as a "Norma Rae" for the teen set.

One of the primary issues with "Stick It," however, might be a misleading advertising campaign. Capitalizing on having the screenwriter of "Bring It On," "Stick It" (even the title begs a comparison) is setup as the same type of movie. And it's not. "Bring It On" is a robust comedy with elements of sporting, "Stick It" is a sporting coming-of-age story with elements of comedy. So many might be approaching this film with the wrong expectations. And those settling in for a night of laughs will surely be disappointed. But, I do believe this film does have an audience--obviously those with an interest in gymnastics, teens to young adults, and I'd guess primarily female.

The film stars Missy Peregrym as a troubled girl (and ex-athlete) who runs afoul of the law. Her father arranges for her to attend a controversial gymnastics academy run by a washed-up coach, Jeff Bridges. At first, an outcast--she soon learns many valuable lessons, as do we all. You can guess this by-the-numbers story without me discussing it any further. Let's just say, we end up at a championship competition and that's where the unexpected protest of the status quo is staged.

Look, I didn't love "Stick It"--but some might. The actors are generally appealing, but clearly this isn't ambitious or serious-minded filmmaking. The soundtrack is appropriate, the gymnastics can be impressive, and I did enjoy the camera work that turned many of the practice sessions into Busby Berkeley style extravaganzas. Certainly not for everyone, but if the idea of "Stick It" appeals to you--I'm guessing you'll probably like it. If it doesn't sound like you're kind of movie, there probably isn't enough that's unique or compelling within the film to change your mind. Recommended slightly for the right audience. KGHarris, 03/07.

Don't be fooled by stupid commercials that make this movie look inappropriate or like soap operas. This movie is awsome and not at all about the guys chasing the girls, inappropriate behavior, or anything. It's definitely worth seeing and watching again. Great movie!

Lets just start with the writing. This flick had me at the theatrical trailer with the line "It's not called Gym-nice-tics." That sold me and it delivered everything I had hoped it would. A sweet soundtrack, very well written scenes, great camera work and fresh, original ideas on tired old ideas (you HAVE to own this movie just for the training montage)

Although Jessica has been a writer for years, this is her first time calling the shots from behind the camera. It is clear that she knows EXACTLY what she's doing and I look forward to her next directed pic. ;) m

While yes, this is basically "Bring It On", only with gymnastics instead of cheerleading, it's still a fun film that gives a lot of insight into the harsh world of competitive gymnastics.

Girls can be catty, and girl gymnasts are no different. When you train most of your life for 8 hours a day or more, while having no social life and nothing to look forward to except some serious injuries and the hope of Olympic gold...things might get a little tense. This is a story of rebellion, and compromise -- of finding yourself, while still trying to find the fun in life. It's cheesy without being stupid, touching without being too heavy, and able to poke fun at itself without forgetting it's core message.

Quick Recap: Haley is a power-house gymnast with amazing natural ability...but she throws it all away at the World Championship when she walks out on her team just before her floor routine, and crushes USA's hopes of getting gold. 2 years later, a troubled Haley is forced back into the practice gym after a run-in with the law. Can she resolve her issues with the sport and compete once again? Or will she turn her back on herself and her teammates for a second time?

This film certainly tends to over-use montage scenes. Theres a montage for everything. A montage for practice sessions, a montage for training, a montage for in-house meets, a montage for competition, a montage for hanging out with friends...pretty much you can't go 10 minutes without seeing another montage. On the plus side, they have pretty cool music throughout the film, and it helps make the over-abundance of montages hip, fun, and tolerable.

The only recognizable gymnast in the film is a cameo role by Nastia Liukin, the current USA championship holder, and probable Olympic medalist (we'll keep our fingers crossed for her and team USA).

While the ending is a little contrived, and in no way realistic, it's still worth watching. Kick back, suspend your idea of reality in competitive gymnastics, and watch all the cool montage scenes you want!

My 10 year old loves this movie about a renegade gymnast who finds a way to retain her maverick spirit in the rigid world of competitive gymnastic and finds redemption. The movie is hip, credible and inspiring. The performances are great, as is the soundtrack. In addition, it is a fascinating and educational inside look at gymnastics that will be interesting even to those with no previous interest in the sport.

I enjoyed this movie it is entertaining. I was very interesting for me since the gymnastics coaching for the movie was done by a dear friend of mine.

I don't think this movie was a box-office hit (it might have gone straight to video), but it's a great flick! Even if you don't enjoy watching gymnastics, the storyline is entertaining and original, and the script is chock full of clever one-liners! Have you ever watched gymnastics and wanted to punch the judges through the TV set for handing out a bum score for an apparently flawless execution? If so, then you will thoroughly enjoy how the story turns out at the end of this movie!

I had never heard of Missy Peregrym before watching this, but she turns in a fine performance as an actress--and BTW is incredibly hot...

Perhaps this movie was meant to be targeted to a young female audience, but I assure that it will appeal to just about anybody in the mood for a fun little comedy! RECOMMENDED.