April 11, 2001
By Veronica Mixon
Lifelong friends, Josie (Rachel Leigh Cook),
Melody (Tara Reid)and Val (Rosario Dawson) are
determined to make it as rock stars. These ambitious,
hardworking gals hail from Riverdale, an typical
suburban town with crowded malls and materialistic
teens who shop-til-they-drop. The girls have dreamt
about being a famous rock band like their male
idols, Du Jour for ages. But they can 't seem
to get out of their garage and when they do, the
audience at the local bowling alley ignores them.
Or, the local bullies -- a gang of hip high school
girls -- make fun of them. Nevertheless, the girls
keep trying and that's the main theme of this
delightful musical comedy, JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS.
When MTV news announces that Du Jour has disappeared
on their private jet, everyone is stunned by the
news. Of course, no one realizes that hip rock
manager, Wyatt Frame (Alan Cumming) has neutralized
the group and is searching for the next hot band.
Well, who does he bump into? The Pussycats! The
rest is history!
Wyatt signs the band and whisks them off to the
city to meet MegaRecords CEO Fiona (Parker Posey).
Life immediately changes. Josie, who has had a
crush on fellow singer, Alan M (Gabriel Mann)
finally gets his attention. Their lazy manager,
Alex (Paulo Costanzo) and his smart-mouth sister,
Alexandra (Missi Pyle) tag along. But, the real
adjustment is the sudden promotional twist instituted
by the record label who change the group's name
and put Josie out in front. While sweet, ditzy
Melody doesn't care, Val becomes extremely upset.
Josie claims nothing has changed but then her
attitude is suddenly very different. She's arrogant
and cruel. What has happened to spoil their friendship
so quickly?
The big surprise about JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS
is the strange and slightly political theme
about the merchandising of rock and roll. Apparently,
Fiona has placed subliminal messages to induce
teens to buy all kinds of stuff like soft drinks
and water, clothes, records, food, etc. They also
include attitude adjustments in behavior with
government approval and Fiona is also marketing
the idea to foreign governments, too. It's only
mildly amusing that the filmmakers poked fun at
establishment types like MTV, Rolling Stone, Fed
Ex, Evian, etc. especially when you consider that
these are also merchandise tie-ins for the film
as well. Of course, as Americans, we are super-consumers!
But, brainwashed -- nah! Did writer/directors,
Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan forget that the
"teenager" was invented in the 1950s
as a strictly consumer marketing tool to buy and
sell rock records, coca cola, movies and clothes.
Regardless of the good-intentions or their cynicism,
the filmmakers have put together an entertaining
girl-power film. JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS
celebrates the fun of being a teenage girl. "Being
a star means people you went to high school with
now want to kiss your ass!" someone exclaims
after the Pussycats' record is a hit. The girls
sing, dance and dream about being expressive and
popular. And, there is nothing wrong with that
especially, when you consider that most movies
involve male themes.
I knew it was going to be fun when Alan Cumming,
who was also in Spice World and the recent
kid hit, SPY KIDS made an appearance. This
guy can do no wrong. He's sharp, clever and fearless
in his goofiness. One minute he's cooling tempers
of a pretty face boy band and the next pitching
the Pussycats as "TLC with two white chicks!"
Park Posey is madcap wild and Missi Pyle, as the
smart-aleck poser -- "Bit me Bambi!"
-- are hilarious.
But, it's the trio of girls that will win audience's
hearts. They are pretty and look cool with musical
instruments. Rachel Leigh Cook (SHE ALL THAT)
is adorable as Josie, a sincere pal. Tara
Reid, who excelled in DOCTOR T AND THE WOMEN,
is double adorable as super-sweet Melody and she
makes us laugh when she beats up real-life boyfriend,
Carson Daly. Also, Rosario Dawson, best known
for LIGHT IT UP AND DOWN TO YOU,
continues grow as an actress.
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS is great fun!
