Not same old routine

When it's time for the big meet, the movie gets interesting.
By CHRIS HEWITT
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
"Stick It" appears to be one kind of movie, but the kind of movie it actually is, is more original.
Written and directed by "Bring It On" screenwriter Jessica Bendinger, "Stick It" starts out as a rerun of that film, with snarky gymnasts getting up in each other's grills instead of snarky cheerleaders. It's not bad, as far as "Bring It On" knockoffs go, and the gymnastics footage -- which uses special effects to make it appear that eight athletes are doing programs on one balance beam at the same time -- is so sharp-looking that these filming techniques are bound to be ripped off for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Screenplaywise, "Stick It" misses opportunities to discuss the unhealthier aspects of world-class gymnastics, which is surprising, since Bendinger is a former gymnast.
At one point, a stick-thin gymnast sees a boy go off with a curvier girl and says, "What do they have that we don't have?" to which a friend responds, "Boobs."
And to which you may be tempted to respond, "Regular periods" or "Square meals."
Difference-maker
But "Stick It" starts to gets interesting when its rebellious heroine (we know she's rebellious because she wears T-shirts emblazoned with the logos of Black Flag, Bad Brains and other punk bands it seems unlikely she actually listens to) gets to the big gymnastics meet.
Up to this point, the movie has been content to leave us with the impression that these young women are puppets content to be manipulated by whatever Svengali happens to be spotting them and withholding meals (here, that's Jeff Bridges, as a grizzled coach).
But the final scenes of "Stick It" suggest that gymnastics could become an even more compelling sport if the "puppets" were given control of the strings.
'STICK IT'
1/2
Directed by: Jessica Bendinger
Starring: Missy Peregrym, Jeff Bridges
Rated: PG-13, for sexual jokes and strong language