From a simple concept of finding your own individuality, to the convoluted conception of young love and the increasingly intricate study of the bonds and breaks between a mother and daughter, “Whip It” is more than a mere comedy, drama, or standard motion picture. It’s a wholesome, honest, and authentic glimpse into the breaking away of a teenage girl from suffocation to what her own name implies — Bliss.

This is easily Hicks’ best film since the Oscar-winning “Shine” way back in 1996 (since then his work has included the admirable but uneven “Hearts in Atlantis” and “No Reservations”), and much of the allure comes from Clive Owen’s complex performance. As a man learning how to function as a single father after the death of his wife, Owen shows great liveliness but also a natural vulnerability.

Rich Bradley of Derry

For the fall the park has a new program called “lock-ins,” keeping skaters in the park from 9 p.m. until 9 a.m. These all-nighters, which will also include a pancake breakfast, will typically run once a month, plus once a week during school vacations. Every “lock-in” will feature a specific theme. One theme the park plans to implement is Pirate Night, which encourages participants to dress or talk like a pirate to win prizes.