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NBC confirmed today that Jimmy Fallon will be the host of the 2010 Emmys for the first time. Fallon has previously hosted MTV’s Movie Awards and Video Music Awards.

The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards will air live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on August 29, 2010, broadcast on NBC from 8-11pm EST.

Fallon has a history of working for NBC. He is an alum of Saturday Night Live (he was on the show for six years beginning in 1998) and has been the host of Late Night since March 2009. In a statement, Fallon joked that hosting the Emmys “has been a dream of mine ever since they told me I was doing it.”

Executive producer Don Mischer told USA Today that “Jimmy has many talents. He can sing, he can dance, he does impressions, and he does it gracefully and with ease,” which could explain why Fallon was chosen as this years’ host. Mischer continued, “I think he’ll make a terrific host and we are really looking forward to working with him.”

Nominations for the awards, which are presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, will be announced the  morning of July 8, 2010.

There’s a real message inherit in Whip It that’s exclusive to any woman who’s had her mother try to mold her in her maternal image. While this might seem to make the film “girls only”, Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut does feature enough charm to appeal to the other gender as well. But alas, this is a true girl power movie, and Barrymore makes no qualms about championing that. For her first picture, Barrymore emulates the derby girls in her film: a couple of bumps and bruises but an overall entertaining effort.

One of the best compliments Barrymore can receive lies with her ability to tell a story. Granted, the script itself isn’t the most complicated story to adapt, yet Barrymore keeps things focused on the characters and their relationships. The plot itself might be exaggerated, but the people are believable, especially Marcia Gay Harden’s overbearing mother Brooke. All of this is well-paced and Drew succeeds in not letting things get out of hand. She also succeeds in not being quirky just for the sake of it (and really, the film could have gone that route several times but chose not to.) Special mention should be given to a pool scene midway through the picture that Drew directs with a nice visual flair. The music, blended with the characters’ actions on-screen, creates a touching sequence that does entice us with a glimpse of what she’s capable of accomplishing from behind the camera.

Unfortunately that rookie mentality does rear its ugly head every now and again. Ironically, Barrymore doesn’t film the roller derby scenes with the same type of flair she possesses for the character scenes. Normally that wouldn’t be a fault, but the film is supposed to be about the sport after all; anyone who didn’t know how it was played would still not know how it was played after viewing the movie. Shots on the derby girls are too close as they skate around the rink and it’s never established visually who’s scored or how they scored. The film just glosses over the highlights without truly giving a sense of what the sport is about. Barrymore also stays cute and clean with how she wraps up her story. Really though, that’s more a fault on Shauna Cross’s screenplay than Barrymore’s direction, but the big decision at the end is rendered really tough to swallow even if the film is essentially the normal ‘feel-good sports film.’

Barrymore did indeed do a good job casting this picture, starting with Ellen Page as Bliss Cavendar (a.k.a. Babe Ruthless, one of the many great names in this movie.) Page carries the picture through its cheesy moments with her rebellious yet innocent portrayal. Page again makes the case that she’s one of the best actresses working, and should have broken out after Juno. She’s supported by Alia Shawkat as Pash, Bliss’ best friend, who has a great chemistry with Page. Not to take anything away from her performance, but it does help that Shawkat doesn’t look anything like a model. It sells her as a real person, and Ms. Shawkat does what she needs to to make the friendship work exceptionally well. The aforementioned Marcia Gay Harden is perfect as Bliss’ unsupportive mother and never gives anyone a reason to root for her. She herself has hardships, but one can’t help but feel she’s getting what she deserves in the end. Her husband Earl reminds us that Daniel Stern is still alive, and maybe he’s developed a serious bone in his body. A good turn, at that.

The Hurl Scouts (again, love the names) are led by Maggie Maven played by Kristen Wiig. For someone who’s more tuned to comedy, Wiig does a solid job with what she’s given. Also making an appearance is rapper Eve as Rosa Sparks. She’s not given too much to do, but Eve makes Rosa a presence every moment she’s on screen. Another notable Hurl Scout is Zoe Bell as Bloody Holly, taking her tough-girl persona and having loads of fun with it. Drew Barrymore herself shows up as Smashley Simpson, but serves nothing to the overall story. Although not a Hurl Scout, Ari Graynor plays Eva Destruction of the Black Widows and turns in a fine job. Andrew Wilson is Razor, the Hurl Scouts coach, who is at times goofy, at times zany, but all the time superb in his duties.

Unfortunately, there are some rotten eggs in this batch, starting with Juliette Lewis as Iron Maven, leader of the Holy Rollers. This has nothing to do with Lewis’ abilities as an actress as much as with how her character is written. She shows up only because the script says the sports aspect needs a villain and Iron Maven is essentially Lane Smith Lite. Lewis doesn’t help the character by not having the bitchy demeanor the Iron Maven would need to have. She doesn’t really get the character, and it shows. Also unflattering is Jimmy Fallon as the Master of Ceremonies. Unlike Lewis, he gets the character and takes him completely overboard in his dorkiness and general annoyance. If memory serves, there’s a scene where people boo him and throw stuff at him, making the movie audience wish they could do the same.

With Whip It, the positives outweigh the negatives and Barrymore, again, gives a very solid first effort. In fact, it’s a promising start to a new career turn for her and there’s no doubt she’ll learn from her small mishaps here and improve them as she grows and expands upon what she’s already capable of doing. The same goes for Ellen Page, although she doesn’t misstep in this movie and really has yet to. Whip It may not accomplish all of its ambitious goals, but it does personify girl power and when it’s all said and done, is entertaining. And really, isn’t that what sports movies are supposed to be?

Rating: ★★★☆☆