Stick It

This is a movie I SHOULD have hated. It fits into several genres I normally can't stand. It's a teen movie (hate them), it's a sports movie (hate them), it's a formulaic troubled teen makes good with help of mentor movie (you get the idea). It came on cable one day and I ended up sticking with it-I'm glad I did. Instead of hating it, I found myself enjoying it quite a bit. It's definitely formulaic, but so are 95% of the movies out there, anyway. They just pull off the formula very well. Gymnastics is something I have a great deal of respect for (unlike figure skaters, sorry), those people are hardcore athletes. The scenes involving the actual gymnastics, whether in competition or practice, are filmed quite creatively. The actors are cast well, also, especially the lead. She looks so...all-American, for lack of a better description, and can actually act. I'm not a teenager, BTW, so I would imagine teens would enjoy this even more.

Quibbles? The music. It's not my taste (except for blink 182). Other than that, for this type of movie, they did a good job. This isn't supposed to be Taxi Driver or Fargo-just a relatively light, feel-good movie that hits the target it was aiming for.

OK Sure, we have all seen this plot line thousands of times before, a "bad" kid runs afoul of the law/parents/teachers blah blah blah. They have to go back and compete in the sport/competition that they were considered to be a natural in "You have more raw talent then I have even seen before." They make good on that promise and redeem themselves and yes everything is right with the world. OK I admit it, I like it every time I see it. We all root for the underdog, it's the freaking American way people!!! Go see this movie, it's entertaining, well shot and has a few laughs along the way to boot. I thought it was well done and easy to watch.

14 May 2006. Stick It hits a solid landing in the narrative-driven, juvenile female drama of gymnastics with a nice unusual twist with a message. This gymnastics movie has more interesting behind the scenes looks at this sport bringing both educational and entertainment value not typically experienced in sports movies. The acting is good, the comic value fun, the drama decent. This is good summer, female movie with sensitivity and improves on its predecessors like The Cutting Edge. While not a serious drama, this family movie brings with it a nice balance of family values, rebellious teen coming of age movie, and light humor that maintains an edge. Eight out of Ten Stars.

So maybe it isn't an Oscar winner, but Stick It was, by far, certainly not the worst movie to hit theaters this year. No, Tristan & Isolde would take that honor. Still, I thought this movie was worth a review written by someone who was not so obviously a guy dragged to the theater by his girlfriend and by someone with some prior experience in the gymnastics world.

While this is not a movie that adults will credit as worth while, the younger generations (13-20) will certainly find it entertaining. The comedy, in my opinion, was well scripted and executed. The actors will not win any awards for their performances, but they were able to bring the characters to life and make them seem real.

The struggle shown for the girls in the gymnastics competitions is one that most competitors face. The judges are harsh and the rules, some of them, are ridiculous.

The movie is ultimately about overcoming the obstacles thrown in your life, finding someone who will believe in you no matter what, and realizing what is most important to you.

I would certainly recommend this movie.

Well as a 12 year competitive gymnast, and only one year away from the Olympics, i know what it's like to do all the things that those girls were doing on the movie Stick it! I know what its like when people are jealous of you, I didn't let it bother me, i loved it, But i fell in love with the movie, The best movie i have ever seen, i just wish i was in it. So for anyone who plans on doing another gymnastics movie, I'm here. But i think they did a great job on matching the actresses with the real gymnast. And i have worked out with several of the real gymnast of Stick it. It was great, hard but great and loved every moment of it. If i had the chance i would do it all over again. And after that one girl fell off the beam, and Burt told Joanne Charis she was able to go to the classics, and she gets excited and shes jumping on the floor and falls, honestly if we are not on 4 inches, we do fall, i think most gymnast get hurt more walking down the street than we do in gymnastics.