I Rewatched ‘Stick It’ As An Adult And I Want Poot To Be My Boyfriend

I used to go to Video Ezy every Friday night and rent out three movies for the weekend. They had a combo: one new release and two old releases.

And week after week, month after month, year after year, there was one movie I would always add to that deal: Stick It.

The choke hold the movie Stick It STILL has on me at my grown age

— jen (@liljuicyjenn) July 19, 2022

For those who haven’t seen 2006 movie Stick It, here’s the rundown: it follows Haley, a former gymnastics champion who has to return to the competitive world of gymnastics that she left behind after a few too many run-ins with the law.

A judge gives Haley and her family an ultimatum: go to Burt Vickerman’s Gymnastic Academy, or juvie.

Stick It is a cinematic masterpiece from the same writer as Bring It On, and I treasure every moment I’ve spent watching, writing about, and worshipping this movie.

Was it weird that my family realised my sexuality before I did? Probably not.

There’s only so many times you can watch a tween gawking over Missy Peregrym in an ice bath before you figure out she may play for both teams.

WHO CAN BLAME ME????

Yet despite my teenage adoration for law-breaking Haley, rewatching the film as an adult left me with a very different experience (my jaw still dropped at the ice bath scene though).

This time, there was someone else pulling at my heartstrings: Poot.

Is this… growth? Am I finally attracted to people for their insides, not just their looks?

Here’s a few reasons why I want Poot from Stick It to be my boyfriend:

Poot is a great friend to Haley

Poot is one of Haley’s two best guy friends, alongside Twilight’s Emmett Cullen (Kellan Lutz) who plays Frank.

At the start of the film, it seems Poot has a crush on Haley, yet despite being ‘friendzoned’, Poot didn’t do what we often hear/see/experience when men are rejected. Instead, he just kept being a fantastic friend — and he even tried to date her teammate Joanne instead (teenagers, amiright?)

While Poot is first introduced as simply Haley’s mate who encourages her law-breaking behaviour, as the plot unfolds, we learn that he’s actually emotionally invested in making sure his friend doesn’t get hurt.

Poot is willing to bail Haley out of juvie, he shows up to every competition, and when Haley’s tough act finally comes undone and she is out crying on the road, Poot is there opening up the car door for her — but not pushing her to talk before she’s ready.

Poot’s courtship of Joanne is super wholesome

Poot does all this while flirting with Joanne, a courtship that starts in the way I could only hope my next date begins: Poot and Frank take the group of gymnasts to the mall to blow off some steam and wear something other than leotards for once.

In a confectionery store, Joanne asks Haley if Frank’s her boyfriend. When Hayley says no, Joanne asks the question that begins it all: “Is Poot?” And that’s when the eavesdropping Poot pushes Haley aside to ask Joanne one very important question: “May I accompany you to the jelly beans?”

Yes, Poot, you can.

Unlike Haley, Poot is an unproblematic king

Along with his confidence, rewatching Stick It as an adult made me realise that Poot is all the things Haley is not: he’s kind, selfless, and he doesn’t judge.

And unlike Haley, he truly doesn’t care what other people think — even when trying on prom dresses at the mall.

“So uhh, why are you buying a dress?” Poot asks Joanne at the mall while wearing a dress himself.

“Because you’re taking me to your prom,” Joanne confidently responds.

“Shouldn’t you be wearing a tux?” Poot says before adding, “Just kidding, we can both wear dresses!”

And that, my men, is how you do it: show up for your mates, ask the girl out, and leave the toxic masculinity behind.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and find a man who is willing to bail me out of juvie and wear a prom dress. Poot? You up?