Stick It (2006) Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym, Vanessa Lengies, Nikki SooHoo, Kellan Lutz Movie Review

Stick It (2006)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Missy Peregrym in Stick It (2006)

Tumble it On

Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) was once the golden girl of jr. gymnastics till she walked out on her team during a major gymnastics meet. Having turned her back on the sport for a life of stunt riding on bikes her constant scrapes with the law finally see her hauled in front of a judge and sent to VGA. It's a nightmare for Haley as VGA is the Vickerman Gymnastics Academy run by Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges - Seabiscuit) and it means facing up to some of her previous team mates who dislike her for what she did. But after a rebellious start as she winds up Burt and anyone else she starts to buckle down and make a go of making a comeback.

I've watched movies about golf, cycling, boxing, I've even watched movies about arm wrestling as well as skipping rope but "Stick It" is the first movie I have seen which is about gymnastics. Although in truth "Stick It" is not really about gymnastics or gymnasts but more of one of those inspirational movies about a rebellious teen coming good in the end after deciding to work hard. Now for those who watch "Stick It" because they read it was about gymnastics are probably going to be pretty disappointed. Yes it highlights some things such as the discipline needed, the relentless hours of training and the seemingly insane rules of professional gymnastics but first and fore mostly it is a bit of visual entertainment for teens which may inspire them to work hard.

Jeff Bridges in Stick It (2006)

In a way "Stick It" feels more like one of those modern dance movies but with instead of flashy dance movies we have flashy gymnastic moves. It has that relentless nature where it never really stops for long enough to develop storyline as it is happy to fire off flashy action at the audience be it the opening scenes featuring ridiculous BMX tricks to Haley throwing herself about on gym equipment.

"Stick It" also has the good looking aspect of a dance movie and there is no denying that Missy Peregrym is extremely attractive but also has the slight look of a young Hilary Swank about her. And then there is Jeff Bridges who whilst seems the last person who would appear in this sort of movie does a good job as Burt Vickerman, making him amusingly tough but also father like. It is Peregrym and Bridges along with the visual tricks and possibly some CGI which makes "Stick It" entertaining as the rest of the cast end up being anonymous.

What this all boils down to is that "Stick It" is an energetic movie for teens who will enjoy all the visual entertainment of attractive girls pulling of gymnastic moves. That teen audience may also find it a little inspiring but I doubt it will be a movie which they will feel a deep desire to watch too many times.


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