If the trailer for the gymnastics movie “Stick It” looks like a poor imitation of 2000’s “Bring It On,” it’s because the writer of both films, Jessica Bendinger, has transplanted her trademark snarky commentary from the world of competitive cheerleading into the world of competitive gymnastics. Now that she has gained directing credit in this film, it is almost as though Ms. Bendinger is trying to right all the wrongs she saw in her previous teen homage. And with the help of her leading lady, “Stick It” manages to make “Bring It On” look like a dress rehearsal.

Ms. Bendinger has filled this new movie with similarly self-effacing jokes, wild choreography, and pumped-up music. The major difference here is that she has made this version more pro-woman – by removing the love interest and combining the sweet and stubborn characters played by Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dushku into one spunky protagonist played by the virtually unknown Missy Peregrym.And it is mostly her performance – with the help of Jeff Bridges’s – that makes the film work.

Ms. Peregrym plays Haley Graham, a rebellious teenager who seems to have given up her burgeoning career in gymnastics to street bike with her friends Poot (John Patrick Amedori) and Ivan (Mio Dzakula). When her freestyle antics get her arrested, Haley is forced to return to gymnastics camp or face juvenile detention. Famous in the world of gymnastics for walking out on her teammates during the world championships, Haley must overcome the chip on her shoulder, as well as the hatred all gymnasts seem to have of her, to return to the sport.

Ms. Peregrym’s disenchanted teen strikes nearly the perfect tone in every scene. Whether dressed in skater chic or a neon leotard, Ms. Peregrym looks perfectly messy, and completely at ease on screen. She avoids the normal posing that a precocious character is usually hampered by, and she seems capable of a range of emotion that most girls in this sort of role cannot muster (including the endearingly awkward Ms. Dunst).

Whether or not “Stick It” is remembered in years to come, the film should serve the same purpose for Ms. Peregrym that “Bend it Like Beckham” did for Keira Knightley. If it takes a set of rock hard abs to propel a young girl in a coming-of-age film to stardom, then Ms. Knightley has some competition headed her way.

Ms. Bendinger gets a number of things right: Many of the jokes are tighter, the choreography more impressive, and the soundtrack more expansive. But it often seems like everyone involved – from the music producers to the film editors – is just showing off.

That said, gymnastics is a highly watched sport for a reason – it is fascinating to watch the gravity defying tricks on display here and hard to turn away from the cringe-inducing injuries the film gleefully displays.

And if the other girls on screen are no match for Ms. Peregrym, her male friends have a refreshingly grungy rapport – especially endearing when teasing each other, such as when Poot responds to Ivan’s accusation that he is “whipped”by his new girlfriend: “When is that a bad thing?” he asks. “Ever?”

Also, Mr. Bridges’s charming scoundrel of a coach brings added depth to the film – even if his attempts at intrigue are fruitless.

The film only truly falters with its unrealistic empowerment message at the end – it just seems odd to spend a film resuscitating the image of a sport only to undercut the entire system it depends on. When uplifting stories divorce themselves far enough from reality – showing girls who have trained their entire lives to win completely forgoing their competitive spirit – they lose their import.

It is also unclear if audiences will respond to a new film so very similar to one that Ms. Bendinger has already created. But there are so few genuinely funny and charming films for young females that audiences might not be turned off by the recycled material. If an alternative to renting an old favorite on DVD is watching a better version in theaters, maybe they will. And if any performance can convince them, it should be that of Ms. Peregrym.

mkeane@nysun.com