DVD Review by David Blackwell

DETAILS: 103 minutes, two audio commentaries, deleted scenes with two optional audio commentaries, bloopers, featurettes, music videos, and more

STUDIO: Touchstone Pictures/ Spyglass Entertainment/ BVHE

RELEASE DATE: 9-19-2006

STICK IT is a fun movie that also makes a statement on the gymnastics judging system. I have been a fan of Missy Peregrym since I first saw her in the short-lived WB series, BLACK SASH. The scene that introduces Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges), the head of a gymnastic academy, made me think it was The Dude (from THE BIG LEBOWSKI) in a gymnastics training room converted from a bowling alley (even though the director ended the opening scenes as a homage to PATTON). Haley Graham (Peregrym) is forced to return to the world of gymnastics which she left two years ago after a run in with the law. STICK IT is Haley's journey to love the sport she left and deal with the reason why she walked from the Olympics. Burt is like the father she never had (since both of her parents are jerks). Vanessa Lengies is a rival gymnast who thinks she could be great, but she is jealous of Haley intensely. It is one of the most fun movies I have ever watched. Haley is sarcastic and yet likeable. You don't hate Jeff Bridges. Vanessa is just so cute (I would take her to the Prom if I was still that young). It is just a very hip film that it just knocks that other movie out of the water that the director wrote before STICK IT, BRING IT ON.

VIDEO: 1.85:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)

AUDIO: English 5.1 Dobly Digital Surround, French, Spanish

Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish

SPECIAL FEATURES: For a DVD release that doesn't have any behind-the-scenes featurettes, it is full of audio commentaries for the movie, deleted scenes, and gymnastics routines. The film and deleted scenes have two optional audio commentary tracks for each. The first audio commentary track is with Writer/ Director Jessica Bendinger and the two female leads: Missy Peregrym and Vanessa Lengies. The second track has Bendinger joined by Director of Photography Daryn Okada, and Editor Troy Takaki. If you want to know anything about the production of STICK IT, listen to the audio commentaries.

The deleted scenes were cut for pacing, but they are enjoyable. Then the Buttaharas Bloopers and Outtakes aren't bad to check out. If you want to see the full gymnastics routines and the Uneven Bars routine in slow motion (both with optional commentary), go ahead if you want to see what they cut and how much green screen work was involved between the real gymnasts and the actors. The Hard Corps featurette showcases the real gymnasts who were in the film and the one show did the routines for the stars of the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: If you're looking for a fun movie, watch STICK IT.  You'll love it if you're a gymnastics fan.

this review is (c)9-26-2006 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission (except for excerpts and a link to the review). Look for additional content at http://enterlinemedia.livejournal.com and send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com