"It's not called Gym'nice'tics"
Added 11/7/2009
I'm not the world's most athletic person. I'll admit that freely. I'll also admit that when sports come on, I tend to fall asleep. But there's just something about gymnastics that captures my attention. I think that's part of what made this movie really capture my attention.
The plot follows failed gymnastic athlete Hayley as she is forced to rejoin the world she left behind after a biking trick lands her in police custody. Universally hated for throwing her old team's chance at gold at the World Championship, Haley finds that picking up where she left is easier said than done.
I really did like this movie. I may not be able to understand everything that the gymnasts go through, but this movie made everyone's struggles easy to relate to. I also liked that the characters were well layered. Sure, we can all see Haley's reasons for being who she is but it takes a good script & acting to show that the mean girl teammate Joanne also has her reasons for being who she is. I really do like that they aren't pushing the whole "mean people are mean & the good people are good". I also loved Jeff Bridges in this movie. He pretty much made the movie for me.
I just really liked that this movie didn't fall prey to the usual cliches of teen & feel good movies. Too often you see the film have a cliche of "the main character wins", so it's nice to see something different for a change.
Even if you aren't a sports fan, you'll like this movie. There's a moral to the movie of course, but the biggest draw of the movie is the teamwork. Even the least athletically inclined can get into this movie!
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Awesome movie BUT
Added 8/10/2009
I did not expect much from this movie to be honest. I saw it advertised and I saw it out on DVD. I thought it would be very lame. That is why it took me this long to watch it. I only watched it because it came on television and there was literally nothing else to watch. To my complete shock, it was terrific! The actress was the main reason this movie was so great. She was definitely channeling Hillary Swank (circa Karate Kid 3). However, she is a much prettier Hillary Swank. Having said that, she is also hilarious. To be honest, I see this actress having a great future b/c she made the whole movie. If it had not been for her, this movie would have just been another "made for tv" type of movie.
My daughter was in competitive gymnastics for many years so we also enjoyed the message behind it. It was especially true how a lot of coaches will fill people's minds with hopes of the Olympics so that they can get their money.
The reason I did not give this 4 stars is because of the cheesy sections where it suddenly felt like I had been pulled into an early 80's MTV video. A bad one.If not for these horrid detours, I would have given it a 5.
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Stick it in your video library, why don't ya?
Added 5/2/2009
I am LONG past the age where I seek out teen comedies to watch. Just don't have the appetite for them anymore. But I stumbled on this today while channel surfing. It is witty, sassy, not at all vulgar or in poor taste, and hovers around being corny and formulaic without actual landing on it. In other words, it rises head-and-shoulders above the vast majority of teen comedies.
The lead actresses are not competition-caliber gymnasts, but you'd never know it. The editing is so SEAMLESS that I just couldn't tell where the actresses ended and the stunt doubles began. In fact, I had to check Wikipedia and the Internet Movie Database just to see if the film used real gymnasts as the leads. THAT'S how hard it was to tell the actresses from their doubles.
Okay, so this movie WAS a bit formulaic. But it was executed well, and that counts for a lot. I enjoyed it a great deal.
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Terrific insight into the world of sports
Added 5/2/2009
I can't add any comments to the general storyline that haven't already been made by other critics, so I won't try.
The entire film is enjoyable, but of course my favorite was the rebellion at the end. Anyone who has competed in a subjective sport (mine was figure skating) knows about the catfights, the favoritism, the back-room deals and the politics. One reviewer says the ending is unbelievable - and it is - but, oh, how we athletes WISH.
The gymnastics routines are fabulous, the story is great, the team is charming, and I highly recommend this movie for all ages.
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Stick It DVD
Added 4/29/2009
I am very satisfied with my purchase it plays excellent and is just as I ordered
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A slaphappy good time...
Added 10/27/2009
If you enjoyed `Bring it On', then there is absolutely no reason for you not to enjoy `Stick It', a very similar sports themed chick flick that is nearly just as funny and clever. Sure, you cannot beat the teen queen sensation that was Kirsten Dunst, but Missy Peregrym (better known for her television work) holds her own amongst BRILLIANT actor Jeff Bridges (this film is so beneath him, but having him on board makes it so much fun).
The film is a lighthearted romp that centers around a rebellious teenager named Haley Graham. A one-time gymnastics pro on her way to getting gold, Haley made a pretty bad name for herself within the world of gymnastics, and so when she is sentenced to enroll in VGA (a prestigious gymnastics academy run by the strict Burt Vickerman) after damaging some property she finds a less than warm welcome. In fact, she is downright hated and despised by some, especially Joanne Charis, Vickerman's over confident pupil. Haley has a pretty bad attitude overall, but time softens her, especially as her love for the sport starts to take over her hatred for her circumstances.
The film has its fair share of clichés, but they are handled with spunk and enough heart to make them fade away. We focus on the wit and charm of the dialog and the likable characters and so the fact that this offers nothing new doesn't really bother us so much.
It's not as good as `Bring it On', but it comes very close.
I really liked Missy Peregrym's sarcastic take on Haley's situation. She seems very real and down to earth, and you can tell she's having a great time; but she never loses her character's inner sense of alienation. You can tell, right from the start, that there is something much deeper to her careless response to life in general. Speaking of `fun', Jeff Bridges is a laugh riot here, constantly stealing every scene he's in. He has settled into his old age (not really, old, but whatever) and has become a seasoned actor who is comfortable enough in his own skin to do just about anything. This is a nicely constructed supporting role, and one that is not easily forgotten.
So, in the end I totally recommend this one. It is fun and exciting and witty and it has that teen-movie charm that will please the young ones and prove to be a nice guilty pleasure for the adults.
It's okay to enjoy this kind of mindless fluff every once in a while.
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simply hilarious :)
Added 10/13/2009
"Stick It" has been one of my favorite comedies since it was first released. It's a story about a rebellious gymnast who gets sentenced to VGA (Vicerman Gymnastics Academy) after a run-in with the law. In an attempt to get her back into the sport she used to love, her coach pushes her to train again after walking out on the world championship a few years prior. With an extremely sarcastic but never-give-up attitude, she is able to find some real friends and put her trust in people once again.
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Entertaining
Added 10/13/2009
Very witty movie about gymnastics and all of the preparation involved in olympic trials. Great story line and fun characters. I really enjoyed it.
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