Double Dare

In case you didn't already know, Double Dare is a documentary about two Hollywood stuntwomen--the Xena and Wonderwoman who really encounter danger (within five minutes of the film, one of them is lit on fire... on purpose.) I don't know what it was about this doc, but it really hit home with me. I got the feeling that the filmmaker really wanted to let these stuntwomen tell their story, and you could feel the trust between the subjects and the crew. These women not only aren't afraid to jump of five story buildings, but are fearless in their fight against the sexism that is evidently still rampant in the film industry. Without Hollywood romanitcization or cheesy glorification (or a big budget it seems), Double Dare brilliantly tells the stories of these captivating stunt women.

The storyline of the two stunt women in Double Dare was compelling and fun. It was well paced: up, down, sideways and all with outrageous stunts going on as a side dish. The main course here is seeing two people trying to break in, and stay in this brutal business.

Don't let the current score on this wonderful documentary scare you off. As the last commenter said I think someone who was a bit vindictive must have run amok. Read the positive comments posted here and see that everyone who has seen this movie loved it. Double Dare is a great film that focuses on two women, one on her way up, Zoe Bell, and one refusing to go down, Jeannie Epper. Die hard Xena fans will know Zoe from her stunt work AS Xena the Warrior Princess. One of my favorite lines in the film is when Zoe calls Lucy Lawless her Acting Double. And comic fans and children of the 70's might not remember her but Jeannie Epper definitely made an impression on them as she kicked but for Linda Carter as Wonder Woman.

You will fall in love with both these women as they share their struggles, their ups, and their downs. You will see Zoe come to grips with leaving her family behind as Xena ends and she looks to continue her career in Hollywood. While Jeannie struggles to keep working, anyway she can.

In a profession where respect for women is so hard to come by you will see how they earn it and fight to keep it. If you are a fan of film making, a fan of the human spirit, or just a fan of women who kick ass, then this is a film that you will not want to miss.

This is a pretty cool and interesting documentary if you understand the subject matter going into it.

The movie primarily takes a look at two Holllwood stunt woman: Jeannie Epper, who doubled for Lynda Carter during the Wonder Woman series run, has been working in the business for approx 30yrs and comes from a whole family of professional stunt men and women; and Zoe Bell, a New Zealand native & young up and comer who doubled for Xena during that shows six seasons who is now looking to make her mark here in L.A./Hollywood.

We get the background of each woman, a look at the difficulties that women face in the business, a lot of celebrity interviews, and some additional celebrity cameos that the filmmakers shot while making the film.

What I particularly enjoyed was the immediate bond between Epper and Bell. Epper seems to take Bell under her wing rather quickly by helping with valuable training and allowing her to stay at her home while she struggles to get work and make her own name in the stunt woman profession. It's a nice inside look that goes to show not everyone in "the business" is just out for themselves. Epper comes across with genuine eagerness, kindness, and integrity as she guides Bell through the Hollywood machine.

If the plot line so far interests you, or your a fan of shows like Wonder Woman and Xena, then this documentary should not disappoint.

Recommended.

I saw this film when it appeared in Chicago and found it entertaining, amusing, and totally real. These are real women, and the courage and talent of these women who perform potentially dangerous stunts is awe inspiring. This movie truly captures the athleticism and skill required to work as a stunt woman. Jean Epper and Zoe Bell are excellent subjects as one is enthusiastically entering the tough world of Hollywood stunt women as the other, a veteran, teaches her the "tricks of the trade". The audience was also taken by the story and its highly entertaining subject. I will never view an action flick again without thinking of these tremendously talented women who fearlessly make an action film what it is. Wonderwomanly wonderful.