"Stick It" is exactly the kind of movie you think it's gonna be. It's another 'you-go-girl' flick similar to "Bring it On" (by the same writer, who also directs here), with gymnastics in place of cheerleading. Whether that's criticism or praise depends on how much you enjoy stuff like this. My wife & 11 year old daughter liked it quite a bit. As for me, I kept wondering what Jeff Bridges was doing here.

Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) is extraordinarily talented gymnast with personal issues (don't they all), which prompted her to walk away from an international tournament, ultimately ruining her team's chances to medal. Later, after a run-in with police, she's forced to return to a gymnastics school run by Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges). Of course, the two clash immediately. Burt respects Haley's natural talent, but feels she's reckless. Haley is so rebellious and confrontational it's surprising the other gymnasts don't gang up and beat the crap out of her. Naturally, there's a tournament coming up, and the group go through the usually fighting, bickering, bonding, finding themselves along the way. "Stick It" is chock full of all the usual characters: sassy teenagers with attitude, two leads with something to prove to themselves, a few bitchy competitors, parents who 'just don't get it', and a variety of other adults who learn a thing or two from these kids. The problem is we don't like any of these people; there's a big difference between teen characters with attitude and those who are just plain obnoxious. We're given no reason to care about Haley, who's nearly as unlikable as her antagonists. Some other characters, such as her chief nemesis on the team, are painted in such broad strokes they are more like cartoon characters. There are also endless training montages set to rock thudding rock music, and while they are well-done and sometimes creative (especially the overhead shots), it get repetitive real fast, as does Haley's annoying voice-over narration during many of those scenes. The film is somewhat saved by a fairly rousing climax, which sometimes throws in a few surprises along with it's totally contrived resolution.

The movie is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen, and overall, it's a pretty sharp & clean image, with great contrast and vibrant color. The audio is rendered in 5.1 Dolby Digital, and features decent balance with no noticeable distortion.

Many of the extras are geared toward those who'd appreciate a movie like this, namely teenagers. Along with two forgettable videos and a blooper reel, there are a couple of semi-interesting docs: "Hard Corps" is about the gymnasts who served as stand-ins for the actors, and "The Judge's Table" shows some slow motion footage with optional commentary. Also included are multiple commentaries by various cast & crew.

Though the movie offers obsoletely no surprises whatsoever (except for the fact Jeff Bridges is the star), and is loaded with stock cartoon figures rather than real characters, "Stick It" will probably click pretty well with its intended audience, which are the same who made "Bring It On" such a big hit. Though directed by the same writer, this one isn't quite in the same league, but this one is recommended for fans of the genre. Similar Movies: "Bring It On"; "The Cutting Edge"