From Deseret News archives:

Stick It

Published: Wednesday, May 3, 2006 4:06 p.m. MDT
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STICK IT — ** — Missy Peregrym, Jeff Bridges, Vanessa Lengies; rated PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence, racial epithets, brief drugs, nude artwork).

"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).

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As you might expect, the demanding Burt and the insolent Haley butt heads. However, he does manage to get one point across — this is her last shot at redemption.

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.

Movie Info
Rated PG13 for profanity, vulgarity, drug use, racial epithets.

Cast: Missy Peregrym, Jeff Bridges, Vanessa Lengies
FIND LOCAL MOVIE SHOWTIMES
Image
Peter Iovino, Touchstone Pictures

Missy Peregryn and Jeff Bridges star in "Stick It," yet another knock-off of "Bring It On."

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