Stick It Where?

For every film that surprises me like Once, there is one that doesn’t. In fact, film can be an interesting study of self-abuse. You know a film is going to be bad, everyone tells you it’s bad, critics tell you it’s bad, it’s part of a group of films that are based on a single film that did well but was ultimately bad; yet you still watch it. Stick It fits into that category of film perfectly.

There are two reasons I watched Stick It. First, I have a secret passion for Bring It On. There, I’ve said it. I love that horrible little cheerleader movie. It is a gooey piece of film candy that sticks to your teeth and no matter how much you brush and floss, it’s still there whenever it comes on TV at 3 in the morning. Stick It was marketed as the gymnastics version of Bring It On (from the same writer as well), so I had to watch it. The second reason is for Missy Peregrym, who plays the lead Haley Graham. She is also a major character on one of my new favorite TV shows, Reaper. She was even on Heroes! So when you combine the two, you get a horrible film you have to watch with a very nice looking lead. What could possibly go wrong?

Everything could go wrong and it does. Look, Stick It has the same storyline as every other film in this genre. Rebel gymnast is forced to go to a gymnastics school when she runs afoul of the law. She overcomes personal demons to save her life and save the lives of everyone around her. She changes everyone for the better. That’s about it, no less no more. That’s a good thing because I do not think the actors could handle much more. So Ms. Peregrym is actually decent in her role, although perhaps her stunt double is better. Her rebel style of gymnastics is quite cool on film. The other standout in the cast is her gymnastics coach Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges). Wait a second, The Dude is back again in one of my reviews. Although this is not a great role for Bridges, at least his performance manages to elevate the film. I am going to stop there because quite frankly, the rest of the cast needs some work.

So are there any redeeming qualities in this film? Surprisingly, there is a political commentary on the way in which gymnastics is scored based on archaic guidelines and biased judges. Now, perhaps this would mean more if I cared. I do not. It makes for a great story but if you have no connection to the sport, the commentary is only seen as a device to make Haley more accessible.

This film is no Bring It On, but I really cannot bash it. They took a formula, changed it a bit, and created at least some unique tweaks. Bridges and Peregrym are quite good in their respective roles, even if everyone around them is not. Stick It does not stick to your teeth the same way Bring It On does, but there are a few chunks that get wedged back in the molars. Not enough for multiple viewings, but enough to justify having watched it in the first place.