From Deseret News archives:
Stick It
Film review
"Stick It" would dearly love to be the next "Bring It On," the 2000 cheerleading comedy that became a surprise hit on the strength of its appealing cast, energetic choreography and sassy, sarcastic dialogue.
And of all the various knock-offs of that film, this gymnastics comedy from the same screenwriter (Jessica Bendinger), who also makes her directorial debut here stands the best chance of doing just that.
Unfortunately, the "Bring It On" formula has already been imitated so many times that it's become tired.
And speaking of tired, there's a curious lack of energy here, as both the performances and direction seem listless.
Hilary Swank lookalike Missy Peregrym (TV's "Life As We Know It") stars as Haley Graham, a once-promising gymnast who quit during a world competition.
Since then, she's gotten into all kinds of trouble, the latest being a disastrous BMX stunt that wrecks a home under construction. So Haley is given a choice: go to jail or go to a gymnastics academy run by coach Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges).
There are a couple of marginally amusing moments here, but Bendinger's smart-alecky dialogue sounds forced especially the pithy line in all the trailers: "This isn't gym-NICE-tics!"
And as strong-willed Haley, Peregrym just isn't very likable (unlike Eliza Dushku, who played a similar role in "Bring It On"). But Bridges is solid, as usual, and he does his best to save the film.
"Stick It" is rated PG-13 for scattered use of strong profanity, some crude references and innuendo, as well as some flatulence humor, athletically based violence (including a BMX accident and a few gymnastics pratfalls), use of racial epithets (song lyrics), some brief drug content (during a fantasy sequence), and glimpses of nude cartoon figures. Running time: 105 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com
Recent comments
This movie was hilarious - I don't know why your reviewer
didn't...
L Schneider | Aug. 22, 2005 at 5:14 a.m.
Cast: Missy Peregrym, Jeff Bridges, Vanessa Lengies
Find a Movie Theater
- Davydenko gets 1st big win 11:27 p.m.
- Top 25 roundup: Heels beat Nevada 11:25 p.m.
- NFL roundup: Tomlinson leads Bolts 11:19 p.m.
- Pakistan's pres. told to give up power 11:10 p.m.
- Honduras votes after coup 11:09 p.m.
- 'Saddam Channel' hits Iraq TV 11:09 p.m.
- Rescue is dilemma for father 11:08 p.m.
- World datelines 11:07 p.m.
- NBA roundup: Garnett nearly perfect 11:06 p.m.
- No. 8 West Virginia wins 76 Classic 11:02 p.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
867 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
473 - Max Hall issues apology
141 - BYU is champion of the state
137 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
117 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
116 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
79
How many touch downs did the Utes have in the game against BYU?
Poor Max. What an asterisk to his whole season. All those wins. And THIS...
The truth is a lot of fans get out of line. (ON BOTH SIDES!) The solution has...
Congratulations on an exciting project. The hotel sounds like a wonderful way...
Ever since the hiring of Bronco Mendenhall, I have been impressed with his...
Hall deserves to be banned from post season play. If he gets off free of...
rip POR. POR played no D but the Griz have some players and a bench (more...
I feel that Brian and I became great friends over the last year and I will...
Never give up! As in recent years many miracles have happened for parent's...
You are sure throwing out the stupid comments today. How could a team that...




