Josie and the Pussycats
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Movie Reviews of Josie and the Pussycats
Movie Review: Too much fun! How could you not love this?!
Summary: 5 Stars
Josie McCoy and her best friends, Valerie and Melody, make up The Pussycats, a struggling garage band from the town of Riverdale, U.S.A. They're gorgeous, they're talented, they're a little naive, and they can't seem to get a break in the record business! Little do they know that Wyatt Frame, the main man at Megarecords, is looking for a new act, and he just happens to be looking in Riverdale. After the tragic deaths of the members of his most recent pop sensation find, boy-band Du Jour, Wyatt is desperate to find a replacement. When he stumbles upon Josie and the girls crossing a busy street with their instruments in hand, he signs them immediately without hearing a single note of music from them. Suddenly, the newly dubbed "Josie and the Pussycats" are on a rollercoaster ride to fame and fortune, and within a week they have a number one song and a sold out concert on the horizon. But the girls don't know that the sinister music industry has been slipping subliminal messages under their tracks, using their music to sell everything from tennis shoes to Gatorade. When Valerie begins to catch on, Wyatt preoccupies her with the idea that Josie is hogging the spotlight, and when simple-minded Melody ALSO begins to get a bad feeling about things, Wyatt's boss, Fiona, decides the two trouble-making pussycats must be eliminated.
Josie and the Pussycats is fun beyond belief. A perfect cast and a smart, funny script carry this movie to a level few comedies have been able to reach recently. The potty humor is to a minimum, focusing the laughs on quirky characters and a great plot about trends and product placement advertising. Despite what some reviewers might say, this live-action version of the famous cartoon band does an excellent job of staying true to the characters while updating them for a 21st century audience. The excessive product placement is meant to be a joke, not a huge ad. Anyone who says otherwise must have completely missed the point of the film, which is pretty sad since it was extremely clear and simple. A warning should be placed on the soundtrack to this movie though. The songs are great, with very sexy voices, but there is a LOT of sexual innuendo here and there. As for the perfect casting I mentioned before, Rachael Leigh Cook is gorgeous and talented as usual, a perfect choice, and definitely one of my top dream-girls. I only wish she had been cast as Sailor Mercury years ago in the live-action Sailor Moon movie that was almost made. Tara Ried and Rosario Dawson were excellent also. Though Tara's character, Melody, aside from being gorgeous, may also seem ridiculously stupid at times, this is only in keeping with the original cartoon character's personality, so God bless 'em for not changing her! Alexander and Alexandra were well cast as well, and really added some extremely funny moments to the film, as did the hilarious villains, Fiona and Wyatt. Alan M. was also nicely cast, though extremely scrawny in comparison to the original cartoon character, but that's the modern image of a hunk I suppose. Oh, and Du Jour, the boy band parody, was too, TOO funny! Great casting there too! Seth Green is always hilarious! All in all, this is simply an awesome movie! Definitely one of my all-time favorite films. As for DVD extras, there's a behind the scenes featurette, great deleted scenes, a hot little Pussycats video, two very funny Du Jour videos, and some other little niblettes. A warning though, for all the other guys like me who'd do just about anything for a date with Rachael Leigh Cook: Though the Backstage featurette will give you some adorable scenes of Rachael, including seeing her with beautiful, long, brown hair, and again later with hideous, chopped and bleached hair, ha, you will also have to suffer through her going on and on about how gorgeous the guy who plays Alan M. is. It can be an irritating segment to watch.
Movie Review: Deeply Underated Satire/Romantic Comedy...
Summary: 5 Stars
I am astonished that this film has been so undeservingly underated. It strikes me that certain people went along with the intention of having an utterly miserable time if they saw anything less brilliant than 'Citizen Kane', then took enormous pleasure in savaging this film when it failed to reach their vast expectations. Frankly if you are so through an elitist in films that the thought of teenage or 20ish characters (God forbid) or their brand of pop culture makes you break out into a hysterical fit of ranting, then you should have known better than to stay away from this.DuJour are an utterly devestating parody of a boyband, and understandably much of the first half-hour is spent in their shadow. Still our introduction to the Pussycats is well done, and easily establishes their current standing. Rachael Leigh Cook, a stunning actress with the largest eyes I have ever seen, is nicely done here. To anyone who would doubt her comedic talent - or lack of interest there in - just watch her eye movements in her first scene with Alan M. Maybe, and I confess I am not an expert, she is different from the cartoon Josie, but by all accounts that is a good thing. In the cartoons I hear she was a nonentity, here she is the core character of the film. While Tara Reid's Melody is perhaps funnier, Josie is still the centre and Rachael Leigh Cook does it well. The other Pussycats have similar good moments, though shorter than Josie's.
Alan Cumming simply lights up the screen whenever he appears. While we are required to actually like Josie, Mel and Val (and they are in fact very likeable) Cummings Whyatt Frame is under no such constraints and it is entirely suitable that he is the only character to break the fourth wall. Posey Parker is almost as good as Cumming, but odder yet. She is good fun in the film, though not as purely fantastic as Cumming.
The supporting cast are okay. Paulo Costanzo as the Pussycats hopeless manager Alexander Cabot III is the best, but Missi Pyle, Gabriel Mann, Tom Butler and especially Alexander Martin, are all very good.
I'm amazed that so many people seem to have either not realised the product placement was part of the films joke, or have realised it, but decide to hold it against them anyway. The gag does become a little cloying after a while, but it does slow down a bit in the final half hour, and is never too distracting. If you found the product placement scene in Waynes World funny, this should cause you no trouble.
The music is of course down to personal taste, but I found some of it at least pretty good, and nothing more unmemorable than any other film track. '3 Simple Words' and 'Pretend to be Nice' are viable singles in their own right, and you will never be able to listen to a boyband again after 'Backdoor Lover' and 'DuJour around the World'. Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson do at least provide backing for their own songs, which is something.
Overall I would say that this was one of the most underated films of 2001 and the least deserved flop. What kind of sick world is it where 'The Mummy Returns' is more popular than 'Josie...?' Watch it.
Yours
~Ross
Movie Review: The Media is Evil!!!! (Fun Movie)
Summary: 5 Stars
Josie and the Pussycats brings the 70s cartoon about a girl rock band to the big screen. Overall, people who gave the movie a pass the first time around at the theatres will be pleasantly surprised by this fun movie which pokes a little fun at pop culture and music.THE MOVIE:
The Story:
Josie and the Pussycats (Rachel Leigh Cooke, Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson) are a garage rock band looking for their big break. When a huge recording contract and overnight success comes to the girls suddenly they realize all is not as it seems as they uncover a huge media conspiracy.
The Cool Stuff:
Its all about the story here. All the observers, conspiracy theorists and pundits who talk about how much the media controls the youth of America has their movie right here!! Overall, the movies a pretty brilliant comedy that touches upon issues such as these as well as simpler, but important, things such as remembering where you come from and who your friends are. Some of the shots against current pop culture were pretty hilarious also (Boy Bands as well as the over abundance of consumerism) Bravo!!
THE DVD:
Again, like most DVD releases this DVD comes packed full of some great extras to enhance your viewing pleasure. While not quite as packed as some other DVDs what you get here is a nice mix. Among the goodies included here are:
1. Commentary always insightful
2. Backstage Pass - 25 minute feature that talks about, among other things, the actresses relationships and chemistry and them learning to play together as a real band as well as their rock costumes.
3. 3 Deleted Scenes
4. 3 music videos: Three Small Words by Josie and the Pussycats, Backdoor Lover by Dujour and Dujour Around the World by Dujour
5. Trailers: The theatrical and teaser trailer plus trailers for other movies.
6. Production Notes more insight into the movie
7. Cast and Crew Bios
THE VERDICT:
Overall this movie was just nice. It may have passed most peoples radar the first time around but if you are looking for a nice rental for the weekend or evening this is your film. The storytelling is very solid. The story works on the deeper level as a story about friendship and pursuing your dreams. It also works on a comedy level with its talk about media influencing the youth plus its bashing of popular culture and consumerism. The DVD features, while a little fluffy, make this particular DVD a great addition to your DVD library if you are so inclined to purchase it.
Final Grades:
Movie: 5 stars
Extras: 4 stars
Total: 4 stars
Highly Recommended
Movie Review: "If I could go back in time, I'd meet Snoopy."
Summary: 5 Stars
Josie and the Pussycats is a movie that a person will either hate, or they will love it. I fall into the "Love it" category. I just found it fun to watch. Rachel Leigh Cooke, Rosario Dawson, and Tara Reid (Hilarious! "I could be in this room - and in the bathroom - and in the closet") made completely lovable characters out of Josie, Val, and Mel. Alan Cummings and Parker Posey were great as our "cartoonish" villians. Parker Posey was hilarious and completely over the top, but it was great. There are plenty of cameos: Carson Daly, Aries Spears of MadTV, Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, and the Moviefone Man's Voice! Josie was all about pop culture and pop references. It's more like a spoof of the whole "Teen takeover" thing going on. The plot revolves around a sinister plan. The plan? <Enter cartoonish villain music from movie> A major underground corporation puts subliminal (right word?) messages in the backgrounds of CDs that sells stuff. A la, "Pepsi One is the new Diet Coke" and "Orange is the new pink!" and "I want an Abercrombie tee." The organization is headed by Parkey Posey and Alan Cumming's characters, and they have signed Josie and co. as their new band, and their new lab rat. All that ensues in Josie and the Pussycats is good times, and learning how to hold onto friendship. The DVD has pretty good picture, and the sound is good. Especially during the songs. The supplements are good enough to satisfy any fan of the movie. To begin with, there's a 24 minute featurette explaining the whole movie, and has some great behind-the-scenes footage. There are 3 deleted scenes. The first two are entertaining, but the 3rd is just a tiny extended scene. Next up is the video for Three Small Words by Josie and the Pussycats, and 2 videos from the spoofed boy-band Du Jour (Which had Seth Green and Breckin Meyer in it). The Du Jour videos are hilarious spoofs of boy band videos. Rounding out the extras is the theatrical trailer and cast and crew bios. I did find one dissapointing thing. In Parker Posey's movie credits, they forgot to mention her role in Scream 3. That's what made me a fan of Parker. There is also a commentary from director and producer, but I didn't get to catch that. Although I'm pretty sure it was entertaining. In the end, Josie and the Pussycats is your average attempt at a fun movie. For some people, it doesn't work. But there are a select number that do enjoy it, and I'm one of them.Movie Review: When I am wrong, I at least admit it
Summary: 5 Stars
I thought this movie looked incredibly stupid when I saw it promoted - and I stayed far away from it when it came to the theater. Then, recently, a friend of mine wanted to watch it and I basically had no choice but to sit and watch it with him. I really like Parker Posey, so I tried to make the most of the movie.And, about two minutes into Josie, I reaized I didn't have to "make the most of anything. This is a really cool movie. It's surprisingly very smart too. It says alot about our culture today...all the consumerism and marketing and cross-promotion synergy that's forced down our throats (read an article in a magazine about a book that's being made into a movie with a documentary feature being produced for the TV and a video game set to hit stores by Christmas, right after the fast food Happy Meal tie-ins...Welcome to McWorld!...and spend, spend, spend!).
The movie is also very funny. What horrible marketing it had when it was in theaters! I never knew this flick would be roll on the floor hilarios. Tara Reid is genius in this movie - and that's something I would never have dreamed I'd say about Tara Reid, based on what I know about her from her appearances on TRL or whatever. Her character is hands-down my favorite in the movie. She has some really great lines and gags as the sweetly-stupid Melody. She's worth watching the movie entirely unto herself.
The rest of the cast is really great too. I'm not a big fan of Alan Cummings, but Parker Posey is her usual talented self here. There's several great cameos in this - and lots of in-jokes for people who remember the Pussycats cartoon from the 70s/early 80s.
I honestly can't say anything bad about this movie. It's one that I can see again and again and still laugh out loud over. And the great thing about it is that hardly anyone has seen it. It's one of those private little gems you can add to your dvd collection and take out to surprise and entertain friends one night. They will totally make fun of you when you suggest Josie and the Pussycats...but I GUARANTEE you they'll apologize when the movie starts up. I still apologize to my friend for making fun of him about his love of Josie. But like I said, when I'm wrong, I admit it.
Seriously..give his movie a chance and add it to your collection. You won't regret it.