DOUBLE DARE — *** — Documentary feature profiling female stunt performers Jeannie Epper and Zoe Bell; not rated, probable R (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief gore).
Just as stuntwomen have to do, "Double Dare" pulls its punches. The film fails to address sexism in the movie industry, which would seem timely for a film that profiles two of the movies' top female stunt performers.
Ironically, the subject is skirted when it's briefly mentioned that high-risk stunts for female characters in films made before the 1970s were actually performed by men in wigs.
Such oversights make "Double Dare" seem a bit thin and spotty, which is unfortunate since the subjects are such interesting women. Ultimately, they are what makes the film better than it should be.
Jeannie Epper, a sixtysomething stuntwoman, continues to work while trying to balance time as a grandmother. (As shown in the movie, her daughter, Eurlyne, is attempting to follow in her mother's footsteps.)
Epper is a role model for an up-and-coming generation of stuntwomen, including New Zealander Zoe Bell, who's intent on having a full-time stunt career. But with production finished on the "Xena: Warrior Princess" television series, where Bell served as stunt double to Lucy Lawless, work has dried up.
Filmmaker Amanda Micheli is fortunate to have such compelling subjects. Epper's considerable career — as well as that of her entire family — could have been the sole focus. But Bell is a strong presence as well.
Aside from them, the best moments come from filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino, who comment on the contributions of both women (Tarantino used Bell as double for Uma Thurman in the "Kill Bill" movies) and stuntwomen in general.
"Double Dare" is not rated but would probably receive an R for some strong violence (movie and television violence, as well as some stunts gone awry), occasional use of strong sexual profanity and vulgar slang terms, and some brief gore. Running time: 81 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com