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..Gary Dretzka
..Noah Forrest
..Leonard Klady
..David Poland
..Douglas Pratt
..Ray Pride
..Kim Voynar
..Michael Wilmington

Whip It!
Directed by Drew Barrymore

What's been the biggest surprise of TIFF '09 for me? Aside from the false impression by some of the media about there being an inch of Oscar movement here this year or the horror show on the sales side in which films will eventually sold... for 20 cents on the expected dollar?

Drew Barrymore not only can handle the director's chair, but she has, in her first film, delivered the same kind of charm that made her a major movie star through the Wedding Singer to 50 First Dates period... or more specifically, the Fox movies, like Ever After and Never Been Kissed. She is a very likable spirit. (So much so that she shouted herself hoarse at her premiere party on Sunday night and had to drop out of all press on Monday.)

The film, written for the screen by the author of the book on which the film is bases (who is also in the film), embraces the true modern feminism of now, not asking for permission, but simply moving forward, regardless of age, race, height, weight, dress size or any of the myriad other issues that keep people judging others.

Is it perfection? No. But it is a warm, funny, kind, smart, loving movie that girls, grrrrrls, women, and womyn will really enjoy. It is entertainment with ambition. And how does one say, "no" to that? (it's a rhetorical question... one doesn't.)

Ellen Page takes her next step, unencumbered by belly, cutting violence, or overly snappy dialogue. But Barrymore and screenwriter Shauna Cross spread the wealth around to veterans like Daniel Stern, Marcia Gay Harden (both pretty and shrewish), and Juliette Lewis, as well as newcomers like Kristin Wiig and the sparkly Alia Shawkat.

You can pick it apart if you really want to, but the spirit is stronger than each narrow detail. If you have a girl under 18 in your home, you will become intimately familiar with this film, as will your DVD player. Just give in and enjoy it. You've been whip-it-ed.

-by David Poland