Double Dare

I was spoiled by growing up with Wonder Woman and the Bionic Woman. In retrospect, these sheroes were nothing in comparison to their successors in the late nineties to early 21st century. My week was not complete unless I could see some woman kick serious butt, and there was iconic variety: Xena, Buffy and Syd, but I never gave much thought to how these physical feats were accomplished.

For example, I thought that most of the stuntwork in Xena was computerized. The stunts did not look realistic, and there was no way one person could do any of them. Leaping across a huge chasm, jumping from tree to tree or fighting on a moving ladder is obviously impossible. Buffy and Syd's stunts may have required careful editing, but the moves were still possible to execute given enough takes and flexibility, but Xena was just campy fun.

So I was transfixed by the first scene of Double Dare, an excellent documentary about two stuntwomen. It starts with Zoe Bell, the Xena stuntwoman, dressed in an immense red kimono and set on fire while being turned like a whirling dervish in mid-air and propelled into the other side of the room.

The film is mesmerizing. Jeannie Epper is in her sixties and may be best known for her work on Wonder Woman. She still does stuntwork despite donating her kidney to one of her actor friends. Double Dare shows Zoe at the end of her stint as Xena and facing the prospect of looking for her next gig as a stuntwoman and finally entering Hollywood. It may have taken a little finagling by the filmmakers, but Jeannie mentors and helps Zoe get her first film gig as Uma Thurman's stuntwoman in Kill Bill.

Even though Jeannie warns Zoe that Hollywood is full of phonies, this movie makes it seem possible to find a comfortable circle of friends. Perhaps that view is a testament to Jeannie's character. She helps Zoe meet casting people and even lets her stay in her house. Within a few seconds of their initial meeting, they whisper and confide in each other like family.

Still, life is not easy for a stuntwoman. It is unbelievable that Zoe could be unemployed after doing so many insane stunts on Xena. Jeannie is not chosen to be a stunt coordinator despite her vast expertise in the area and still has to hustle a job from the guys that she taught. There is no denying that Zoe and Jeannie are the best in the business, but the business seems slow to recognize it.

Stuntwomen still have to be concerned with their looks and weight more than their male counterparts. I was kind of annoyed when Lynda Carter, perhaps accurately, said that Jeannie had issues with self confidence. I'm sorry, but a woman in her sixties should not have to face whether or not she needs liposuction to continue hurling herself from cars. Stuntwomen are expected to be as buxom and beautiful as their "acting doubles."

Also, because the action heroine is expected to wear very little while kicking butt, the stuntwomen cannot put on as much protective gear as the stuntmen; thus stuntwomen are liable to suffer more serious injuries, which may have long term effects on their career.

This film only focuses on two of the many stuntwomen who add more excitement to our favorite movies and shows. As someone who has unwittingly enjoyed their work for years, I want to thank all the fearless stuntwomen for suffering through these problems and continuing to amaze us each week.