Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Haley is a naturally gifted athlete but, with her social behavior, the teen seems intent on squandering her abilities. After a final brush with the law, a judge sentences her to an elite gymnastics academy run by a legendary, hard-nosed coach. Once there, Haley's rebellious attitude wins her both friends and enemies.
Stick It earns genuine marks for Novelty — writer-director Jessica Bendel crafts a sharp, self-aware sports comedy that explicitly deconstructs the sexism and absurdity of competitive gymnastics judging, giving it a distinct feminist voice uncommon in the teen sports genre. The plot is a familiar underdog arc but gets enough subversive energy to stay engaging, and the performances (especially Jeff Bridges) are solid without being exceptional. Cinematography is functional and energetic for the genre but not visually distinctive. The ending, where Haley and her teammates collectively forfeit in protest, is memorable and thematically resonant, elevating the film above its genre trappings without quite reaching a top score.