Whip It

Desperate to break from the clutches of her controlling mom (Harden) and her small-town Texas beauty pageant life, misfit teen Bliss (Page) is drawn to all-girls roller derby. After secretly joining the Hurl Scouts team in nearby Austin, she quickly becomes a crowd favorite as Babe Ruthless. Adapted by Cross from her 2007 novel "Derby Girl," this coming-of-age story might not be unique but is dipped in the delicious roller derby culture where girls rule. And not only did Barrymore craft an engaging female-power action comedy for her directorial debut, but she also dons some skates as tough chick Smashley Simpson--a particular treat is seeing her and Page do much of their own skating.