MovieChat Forums > Whip It (2009) Discussion > When is the movie set?

When is the movie set?

posted 14 years ago by lukichu-loves-you
13 replies | jump to latest

Trying to settle something here..
Is "Whip It" set in the 80's or in modern day?
Thanks.

It is supposed to be set in the modern day, at least sometime around the 2000s.

It looks outdated because it is a small, backwoods town that they are in and places like that take a lot longer to catch up with the times.

[–] popularityzero3 14 years ago

"bodeen" and it's "bluebonnet" ice cream factory are actually based on the real town of brenham, tx, and it's blue bell ice cream factory. brenham is actually nothing like the portrayed town anymore, so it could be that the director took extensive artistic liberties, or that it's set a little further back in time than you'd think.

[–] ep838 14 years ago

It set in present time. But there are some elements in the movie that would make you think that it was set in the 80s or 90s like outdated TVs and computers, old cars, music, hair styles.
I think this was deliberately done so the audience would keep on guessing when this was taking place.
What clued me in is when one of the actresses mentioned a GPS unit.

[–] CinephileMagazine 14 years ago

Google's site makes an appearance.

[–] bob_mc1 14 years ago

Its set now but lots of stuff was kinda old looking. Suppose that's the way it is in small towns.

[–] rooee 14 years ago

Google and Wikipedia are both used, suggesting it's at least the 21st century. Which I guess means that during the swimming pool scene both characters destroy their mobile phones.

[–] Rachel_Fox 14 years ago

but they never have phones in the first place - bliss has to use a payphone.

but that's just me.

[–] lilliesRme 14 years ago

yes, but you see her mother use a cell when they are buying boots at the beginning...

[–] knightwind88 14 years ago

From the novel, page 175:

"In light of the Pash Amini / Bliss Cavendar Best Freind Break-up of 2007 and Oliver touring, I'm back to riding the bingo shuttle to get to Austin."

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] huldu 13 years ago

At first i thought it was set in the 70-80's but over and over again i noticed the car models were just too modern for that. Like people already pointed out this was suppose to be pretty recent as in 2k+.

[–] jefgg 12 years ago

I thought the movie was set in the present or recent past. The modern roller derby revival began in Austin, Texas in 2000. Please click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_roller_derby

[–] necronaut13 10 years ago

Which is referred to in the script. Ms Cross knew her stuff.