"Stick it" was heavily marketed as one of those "from the people who brought you" type movies. In this case, the snappy and intelligent "Bring It On" was the film in question. Well, "Stick It" is really a carbon copy of its superior sibling. When I say carbon copy in this case, I mean virtually the same story, but with certain plot elements changed, much like the carbons in your checkbook record what you write, but do so on a messier, less attractive scale. In "Bring It On", we had Missy as the sidekick to our protagonist, Torrance. In "Stick It", the sidekick becomes protagonist, in the form of Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym). What we don't have is the smart writing and clever humor that Jessica Bendinger (who also directed this one) brought to BIO. Neither do we quite have the excitement. Bendinger's "gymnastics-off" in this one damn sure isn't Clovers vs. Toros, nor do we have that feeling of wonder watching the underdog. In fact, "Stick It" is much more by the book, and you can practically know whats going to happen just by listening to Haley's voice overs. Plot line is kinda basic, former gymnastics prodigy Graham walks out on the world stage before millions, and turns to a life of rebellion. She gets arrested for one stunt, and is given a choice
military academy or a competitive gymnastics club. She chooses military and the judge (played by Polly Holliday..better known to a generation as Florence Jean Castleberry, or Flo for short) gives her gymnastics. There she runs into the latest group of hopefuls, led by the conceited and under talented Joanne (played kinda fun by the adorable Vanessa Lengies). The once great but now injured coach cliché is filled in kinda nicely by Jeff Bridges. Overall, most of the cast fill their leotards well and don't offer much more than that. Oh yeah, we had more than our fair share of nubile female flesh in this one, but that sexy skin isn't close to enough to carry this movie. Gotta have a story, gotta have decent characters, and gotta lose the silly clichés to make a film interesting! "Stick It" tried to be a copy of the stellar "Bring It On", but copying its storyline, losing its heart and humor, and trying to use flesh as replacement, it failed on a massive scale. 1.5 out of 5
