A Review by Phil Calabro
2006, Touchstone Pictures/Spyglass Entertainment, Dir. Jessica Bendinger - Starring Missy Peregrym, Jeff Bridges, Vanessa Lengies, Nikki SooHoo, Maddy Curley, Kellan Lutz, John Patrick Amedori, Mio Dzakula, Svetlana Eframova, Jon Gries, Gia Carides, Tarah Paige
I had no intention on seeing 'Stick It', until I had the gracious opportunity to screen it on a day off. On that note, you should no intention of spilling out 7 dollars at your local theater to see 'Stick It', even if you have an entire week off. It's movies like these that make me question Hollywood. Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant - all made off on movies with great stories and plenty of attitude. 'Stick It' has attitude. So much attitude, in fact, that there hardly an existent story. Promoting "girl empowerment" (so I would understand) through pushiness, bad behavior, and giving middle fingers, director Jessica Bendinger wants to relive the glory of her infamous garbage 'Bring It On', with all the acerbity attached. Through the trenchant performance of newcomer Missy Peregyrm, this gymnastics show-all combines the fluttery, lacksadaisical character of 'Mean Girls' without any endearing imagery of athletic films. It's my belief that 'Girlfight' could easily take on this film any day.
Haley Graham (Peregrym) has a cute name and a cute body, but certainly not a cute disposition. She has broken the law by stupidly riding her tricked-out bike through a brand new mansion window, and she respectively runs away from the police before being brought to justice. Her narration, mind you, dominates the first half of the movie, as she cynically describes the world around her as if it actually sucks. She is given a choice by the judge: juvenile deliquency boarding, or attend the Vickerman Gymnastics Academy - better known as VGA. Now, Haley's already been to VGA, especially recalling when she was about to bring her team to championship gold until she dropped out last minute for no apparent reason. Unwilling to face her past, she begins to clash with gymnastic coach Burt Vickerman (Bridges) as well as fellow cohorts Joanne (Lengies). But she's ready to fight back at the demons that dragged her down before - and bring the team to gold again. That is, of course, with bringing a few rules in the meantime.
Missy Peregyrm is talented and gorgeous, but exhibits herself as a one-dimensional actress. Rather than letting her bad behavior soak into her pores, she appears as a bad caricature of Elisa Dushku's character from 'Bring It On'. Stuck up, with nowhere to run to, she's a girl who feels she's lost everything - but the director ever blends any emotion into the film. There is a mild exception, and that's with Jeff Bridges. As a long-standing fan of Bridges' work, he does not belong in this movie. From 'The Big Lebowski' to 'Seabiscuit', how could the once-wonderful Bridges end up in such a silly production? He is the sole cast member who displays any sort of emotion or depth to their characters, along with making him the most lovable addition to the ensemble. Vanessa Lengies is cookie-cutter fare, giving us a 1-star performance as a moronic suck-up who may just possibly have an IQ of 14 - but she's still a good friend in the end, if that works.
The execution of 'Stick It' is frenzied and unfocused. Its opening credits feature a mind-twisted mix of graffiti and Missy Elliot's cover of 'Apache', already an assault on our senses. It tries desperately to become a "slice of life" film with alternative style, but appears as nonsensical editing between past footage and slow-motion bike feats. Peregyrm's aforementioned narration is an unnecessary feature, only giving the audience a perspective of her bad attitude which runs to a point of castigation of the character. She's a bad girl, and there's nothing we can do about it. We can't get around her annoying, overly pessimistic mood swings, which leaves me as well as the audience desiring something more. It's only until Jeff Bridges comes into the picture that it softens its muscles a bit. Also, if there's any movie to promote the sport of gymnastics, 'Stick It' is not it. 'Kingpin' did a better job promoting bowling than this.
Jessica Bendinger has carved the public another flashy and rude film with 'Stick It'. It lacks a hero, an interesting sport, a pressing conflict, and commendable style. Instead, this is one production that has all the rage of a Good Charlotte album and the aftermath of a teenage hissy fit. You can 'Stick It' where the sun don't shine for all I care.
