Stick It

Jessica Bendinger
2006

Screenwriter Jessica Bendinger's first film proves that there's no accounting for good direction. Her surprisingly accomplished script for 2000's "Bring it On" came to the screen a gem of a movie thanks to Peyton Reed's expert (and fun) direction. It would seem however, that Bendinger is largely incapable of handling her own ultra-modern, ubber-pop takes on teen competition.

Haley is a hellcat teenage tomboy with a penchant for "extreme" sports, graffiti, and punk rock (if her T-shirts are anything to go by). After busting up some private property during a rad thrash session she ends up in juvie court, and instead of winding up in children's village with a gang of mouth-breathing arsonists, her dad and the judge arrange for her to attend a prestigious gymnastics school. This is a sort of punishment of course, because Haley walked out on gymnastics years ago causing her team to forfeit the world gymnastics championship.

Despite some charming performances (particularly from Jeff Bridges and Nikki SooHoo), and a decent dramatic concept (gymnasts bucking the rules of the cruel and unusual judges) the film is scattered and unfocused, choosing to gorge itself on watered-down-riot-grrl bubblegum visual sequences as opposed to fleshing out major plot points and character motivations. This is particularly apparent in Haley's relationship with her parents. Bendinger's intention is to show a fairly common dysfunctional family, the kind that would raise a child who's into junk food and skateboarding, yet there is a heavy fog surrounding Haley's family affairs due to lazy scriptwriting and direction. For all we're given her father could easily be an abusive sadist, and the mother a trampy alcoholic trophy wife. That's definitely a little rougher than this film wants to be. Bridges' semi-disgraced instructor has a wash of unsettled loose-ends as well. For a guy who's reputation is based on having girls push themselves to injury it seems more than a little amateur and awkward that this prophecy is never consummated on screen.

We'll blame this one on the fact that its a directorial debut, but in the future Bendinger needs to leave the MTV crap at the door and concentrate on better character writing. Also it wouldn't hurt to spend some more time with the dialogue. The distinctive language comedy that was a brilliant cornerstone of "Bring it On" seems forced and trite this time around.

Review by Brett A. Scieszka