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Josie and the Pussycats' Movie Reviews
"Hilarious industry
spoofing..."
"Josie
serves up lots of eye candy..." "...across-the-board
appeal to be a crossover hit." "Rachel Leigh Cook
is just adorable as Josie. Rosario Dawson plays really well as Val.
Tara Reid is SO convincing as airheaded Melody, you have to wonder
how she ever found the set." "...light-hearted
film with a feel-good message: Be happy with who you are." "...clever consumerist
satire that includes well-earned laughs" "Pre-teens especially
should enjoy the candy-colored adventures of this girl-power group" "Gets a lot of
mileage out of its spirited performers and their peppy music." "...it's eager
to please, and it's hard to stay grouchy in its presence." "The humor is,
like, so of-the-minute..." "A sweet-natured
bubble-gum movie about the escapades of an all-girl band, 'Josie
and the Pussycats', like those venerable Frankie and Annette beach
movies, gets a lot of mileage out of its spirited performers and
their peppy music." "...there’s
more to this film than is evident at face value." "Has substance
to match its sparkle, sassiness and, yes, volleys of girlish squealing." "It is funny ...
with a sharp script by directors Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan
that's also sneakily subversive." "Nicely balances
high-energy pop music, teen comedy and plenty of not-so-subtle digs
at the business of star-making." "It's all stuff
and nonsense and far more enjoyable than we expected." "Diverting, furry
fluff, and just-amusing-enough for summer cinema." "This pop culture
comedy is just popping with giggles, laughs, rockin' tunes, a smart
script, and an infectious spirit." "...it's a fun
ride" "The movie is full
of quick, funny gags" "If you are looking
for a rockin' good time to shake off the winter blues, you can't
go wrong hanging around with "Josie and the Pussycats"
***************************************************
Josie and the Pussycats
It would help to have a teen-ager along when seeing this movie, but even so it’s a surprisingly witty and fun film, even for parents. New York, April 14 -- I'd expected this movie to be 90 minutes of intolerable fluff aimed solely at teen-agers who don't realize that there are other channels besides MTV. But with its spoof of product placements and silly fads that pervade every upcoming generation, this movie actually has a message -- not a very deep one, but a message all the same. According to my better-qualified assistant -- namely my teen-aged daughter -- these characters first appeared in Archie Comics and were then on a cartoon show in the ‘70s. The title player is Rachel Leigh Cook, who has 19 films already on her resume. She's backed up by Tara Reid of Just Visiting and Rosario Dawson of He Got Game. The girls become overnight superstars when they're plucked from obscurity and small town poverty by a sinister promoter, Alan Cummings of Spy Kids and a dozen other recent movies. Parker Posey, who’s also in every other movie, is his sinister boss. I liked the film's unpretentiousness and the shameless product placements, which is part of the joke. This is the script the Spice Girls should've had. Sure, it helps to take a member of the target audience along, but Josie and the Pussycats is surprisingly witty and fun, even for a parent. *************************************************** Summary: Whipped Cream and Fluff (with a real message inside!) Comment:
The comic
strip always taught friendship, the importance of family, and
that
"doing the right thing" was the best choice. . . and that
not all of your
family and friends were likable, but they remain your family. How
do you
take a short comic and turn it into an eight dollar plus night with Of course you know they were kidding but product placement will never be quite so effective again. Comment Author: H. W. S. ***************************************************
Comment:
All three
actresses were fantastic as the Pussycats, staying very true to
their comic book/tv characters. Rachel Leigh Cook was an excellent
choice
for Josie...she adds a poignancy to the role that was completely
unexpected.
As you can imagine, there is the usual romantic subplot, but Cook
gives it
an honesty and sweetness that saved it from becoming a cliche. Rosario
Dawson also did a wonderful job of humanizing Val, portraying her
as a
strong yet insecure woman. Tara Reid had the hardest part of all.
How do
you
portray a ditzy character so that it doesn't degenerate into a one-note The soundtrack
utterly rocks...the last teen movie I can think of with a
soundtrack that was so well matched to the visuals was
"Clueless."
Songs that could have been just filler really added to the overall
energy
and appeal of the film. The music style was more "hard rock"
than the
original TV series, but they managed to get the theme song in there
somewhere, so I was happy. :) At the screening I went to, people
actually
danced in the aisles during the end credits...not something I see
every
day. The script
is phenomenal, filled with many in-jokes and great timely
references. What's most amazing is that Josie & the Pussycats
is a movie
with something to say, yet it got its message across in a I can honestly say Josie & The Pussycats is one of the best TV-to-Film adaptations I've ever seen--very enjoyable for fans of the old series, but remaining accessible for those who weren't. ***************************************************
Comment:
The players are fun because they poke fun at themselves. The product placement of the movie - you'll know what I mean ten minutes into the film - are hilarious. The irreverent way they look at the music industry is fun. And who knew I'd love the music so much? I really anticipated a lot of pop nonsense, but I loved the guitar and drums so absent in top 40 artists (you know who I mean). Don't expect Saving Private Ryan or Sleepless in Seattle...this movie pokes fun at itself. It's more like Austin Powers. Seeing Seth Green in an orange and red boa is worth the price of admission - even full price. *************************************************** Summary: That was SO twenty-minutes ago! Comment: Like many of the other commenters, I did not know what to expect from this film. I did cringe in December when I heard they were making a Pussycats movie; I recall saying at the time "Is there nobody in Hollywood with an original idea anymore?" But knowing that the musical voice of Josie was a respectable female performer from here in Boston, I was curious as to how the tunes would carry... What a
pleasant surprise! I had no idea how precise a shot the movie was
to Great tunes, funny scenes (including some great inflective humor), and some nice eye-candy... It's not going to take an Oscar, and it will never be viewed with the significance of say, Bresson's "A Man Escapes", or even the 70's smash "Network", but it is DEFINITELY worth seeing! *************************************************** Summary: Commercialized fun Comment:
Well, I came out of the theater with a catchy tune in my head and for once, feeling my five bucks had been worth it (unlike with most of the kiddie drivel I take my little brother to.) But then again, I'm a teenage girl, and this was, well, a teenybopper movie. Whatever. I wasn't expecting a cinematic treasure; I wanted goofy escapist fun, and I got it. Most of the critics were whining about the constant product placement, which, I thought, was the whole point (unless my impressionable teenage brain missed it entirely). It's self-parody. And I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the "America Online Hotel" or a hotel room that looks like a Target store threw up all over it. Not all the jokes hit, but the campiness alone was enough for me. The over-the-top villains were great, and I especially loved Tara Reid's turn as Melody (or was it Bubbles from Powerpuff Girls?) I despise nearly all boy bands, but I found myself falling for DuJour just the same. And Alan M? Yowza! From what I've heard so far from other people, the chances one will like it is a bit of a crapshoot. (I imagine most guys won't, and when their girlfriends drag them to it they will simply use the opportunity to ogle Rachael Leigh Cook.) But I enjoyed it on the grounds of what it is; cute campy fun. And, oh,
yeah; where can I find McDonald's shower puppets? *************************************************** Summary: Not for the pop-culture impaired Comment:
And for crying out loud, people, lighten up! Not every movie is designed to be a thought-provoking masterpiece. This is a movie to go see with your date, to relax in and laugh at the silliness people do. Comment Author: Paulina B. ***************************************************
Comment:
Rating (out of 10): 8.75 *************************************************** Summary: Wonderful satire, grossly mis-reviewed Comment: It's amazing to me how so many reviewers, who are supposedly smart, intellectual people, completely missed the satire and parody of this movie. So many reviews complained about the barrage of product placement in the movie. Guess what....it's so over-the-top, it's obviously a joke. It's our consumer culture taken to the extreme. What's sad is that the plot of this movie, record execs placing messages in music in order to change trends as often as possible, is probably at least half true. I especially loved the shots of suburbia where everybody owns the exact same SUV. I think it's obvious from the IMDb user rating (7.8 as I write this) that this is the most mis-reviewed movie in a long time. Who knows, maybe all the reviewers are part of the conspiracy, and this hits a little to close to home :) *************************************************** Summary: Read this review, it may just change your mind Comment:
Obviously
if you are reading this then you value my opinion. And as
I said this is the first review I have written, so obviously I had
something important to say. Go see Josie! It rocks! *************************************************** If newspaper film reviews could hide subliminal messages, this one would say, "Go see Josie and the Pussycats." Instead, you can take that advice up front. It may look like a slight retread of ''70s comics and cartoons, but Josie is surprisingly smart fun. Like Charlie''s Angels, it''s a girl-power romp for a tight trio, here a struggling rock band. Suddenly they''re snapped up by a big label''s Machiavellian manager (Alan Cumming), who makes them instant superstars. This is not a good thing, and the girls know it, distrusting a success they didn''t earn. Sure enough, their ascent owes not just to marketing, but a vast conspiracy. Subliminal messages are being hidden on CDs, brainwashing kids to buy products and worship bands. These messages pack punch in large part because kids are shown as fickle slaves to instant fashions and trumped-up trends. That''s a bold stance for a film aimed at kids, and Josie doesn''t stop there. It also slams formulaic pretty-boy vocal groups via DuJour, a fictional foursome whose vain posturing is a hoot. By contrast, the Pussycats are nice, down-to-earth girls and legitimate rockers, in a female Green Day way. But the film isn''t about music so much as the music business -- and business greed in general. Perhaps no film in history has had so much product-placement, brandishing brand names in almost every frame. But for Josie, it''s also a plot device and a grand running joke. In its not so far-fetched fantasy, the world is one big commercial, with corporate symbols plastered everywhere. Josie is a cautionary, almost sci-fi stab at how hollow our consumerist society can become. This is George Harrison''s encounter with arrogant trendsetters in A Hard Day''s Night, taken to extremes. Josie also recalls the subliminal conformity in John Carpenter''s underrated They Live. Yet Josie''s cynicism is encased in a light-hearted film with a feel-good message: "Be happy with who you are." Writer-directors Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan (Can''t Hardly Wait) also add mental nourishment to their eye-candy, jamming Josie with visual gags and witty dialogue. Cumming is a sneaky delight, ably backed by the crazily charming Parker Posey as his label chief. But the good-girl roles are less satisfying. As singer-guitarist Josie, Rachael Leigh Cook gets to have a personal life via a tentative romance with a nice guy from back home (Gabriel Mann). But that's about it. Tara Reid is merely a cheerful airhead as drummer Melody, while Rosario Dawson is grounded and aware as bassist Valerie. Their songs are ghost-performed by music pros, which seems a cheat for a film about cheating. Yet some are actually hit-worthy. That's
not to say the Pussycats merit superstardom. But neither do many
real groups who attain it, and that's just one of the points scored
by this sharp, savvy film. ******************************************** THEY'RE FELINE GROOVY
April 11, 2001 -- 'CHARLIE'S Angels" it ain't, but "Josie and the Pussycats" is still more fun than you'd expect from an adaptation of a '60s Hanna-Barbera cartoon that was in turn derived from a comic book. Pre-teens especially should enjoy the candy-colored adventures of this girl-power group. They're perfectly embodied by the lively and endearing performances of Josie (Rachael Lee Cook), Melody (Tara Reid) and Val (Rosario Dawson). The furry-eared trio is plucked out of the mythical Riverdale bowling alley by record company exec Wyatt (the ubiquitous Alan Cumming) and within a week, they have a chart-topping CD. Soon the pals are arguing among themselves. Meanwhile, the slimy Wyatt and his even more evil boss, Fiona (Parker Posey, who's even more over the top than Cumming, no mean feat), are secretly hiding subliminal messages in the Pussycats' songs. The amusing (if somewhat dated lately) conceit is that the record labels are in cahoots with the government to steer teens' tastes to keeping the economy perking - planting messages (voiced by Mr. Moviephone!) like, "Heath Ledger is the new Matt Damon." This conspiracy includes MTV, whose Carson Daly is enlisted to eliminate Melody and Val when they become suspicious ("consider it 'Total Request Dead,'" as Daly, playing himself, puts it) - just as Wyatt takes care of a group of *NSYNC clones during the film's amusing opening sequence. The girls
fly on a Target plane and stay in the Revlon room of an AOL hotel.
There's an entire montage devoted to plugging brands and products.
***************************************** 'Pussycats' is purrfect
kitsch ***
``Josie and the Pussycats'' may not be ``This Is Spinal Tap'' or ``Phantom of the Paradise,'' but it's eager to please, and it's hard to stay grouchy in its presence. This is no small thing at a time when, given the recent run of repellently brainless movies aimed at the youth market, road rage is about to be replaced by multiplex rage. Actually, the film might be shooting for ``Spinal Tap'' territory in a funny prologue about an airhead boy group called Du Jour. But one plane crash later, the band's manager - played by Alan Cumming, the villain du jour of cartoony movies - is looking for a new band to feed to his voracious boss, Fiona, played by Parker Posey as the Cruella De Vil of rock merchandising, bent on world domination. He finds Rachael Leigh Cook's Josie, Pussycats Melody (Tara Reid) and Valerie (Rosario Dawson), and their brother-sister managers (Paulo Costanzo and Missi Pyle). In the hands of writers/directors Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan, this movie sunnily kids many of the excesses of prepubescent rock and marketing. The feline trio never behaves with an off-putting sense of entitlement. They're hard-working and lively, and so much fun to have around that even their furry little cat ears seem OK. ``Josie and the Pussycats'' does a better job than most of its kind with its wholehearted kitsch-as-kitsch-can approach.
MOVIE REVIEW By KENNETH TURAN, Times Film Critic When you think about it--and thinking about it is probably the last thing you should do--"Josie and the Pussycats" is a third-generation cartoon. First came the Archie comic book debut in 1963, then the animated series a decade later, and now this amiably cartoonish cinematic slumber party. Talk about a distinguished family tree.
************************************ E! Online Watching this comic book come to life on celluloid is like getting a heavy dose of MTV's TRL, shameless product placements, lip-synched music, Carson Daly and all. Riverdale rockers Josie, Valerie and Melody dream of the big time from their garage until fate steps in and hands them the cat's meow of a record deal (hilarious industry spoofing provided by Parker Posey and Alan Cumming). Overnight, these sexy kittens become a success--but the fans, fame and free fashion aren't as purr-fect as expected. The humor is, like, so of-the-minute: boy bands, jabs at Carson and Tara Reid's relationship--even the AOL Moviefone guy is in on the joke. And it works, in a fast-food, guilty-pleasure kinda way. Don't believe us? We dare you to not tap your toes to the rockin' tunes on the way out (even if you're over 13 and feel a little embarrassed about it).
************************************* Variety Review by Joe Leydon Though clearly aimed at an under-25 female demographic, the movie has sufficient across-the-board appeal to be a crossover hit.
But success comes at a high price. Fiona (Parker Posey), the spectacularly vain-glorious CEO of Mega Records, uses the Pussycat CDs to slip subliminal hard-sell messages into the brains of teens everywhere. Kaplan and Elfont cram so many in-jokes, knowing allusions and on-target parodies into their film that a second viewing may be mandatory for anyone who wants to savor all of the gags. The funniest bits involve efforts to control trends among teens (“Gatorade is the new Snapple!,” “Heath Ledger is the new Matt Damon!”). No less a notable than Mr. Moviefone is embroiled in the stealthy brainwashing.
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by Glen Oliver 2001-04-11 Josie and her band are propelled into a bizarre, semi-futuristic reality where product placement has infiltrated every element of our everyday lives and culture, and quickly find themselves swept-up in a horrendous and insidious plot: For the last few decades, record labels have been conspiring with the United States government to drive the national (and soon global) economy by embedding subliminal signals within rock music to entice people to purchase goods and services. In effect, what’s “in” and what’s “out” (i.e. trend and purchasing habits/movements) is totally controlled and determined by unseen Powers That Be. Invariably, the talent generating said music discover their tunes are being used as vehicles for such nefarious purposes, and revolt. The Powers That Be subsequently snuff-out these groups, resulting in the famed “plane crashes”, “bus wrecks”, “car accidents”, and “over-doses” which have claimed many of our most famous musicians. VH-1’s Behind the Music is a propaganda vehicle creating illusions to serve such ends. The group soon comes to suspect something is amiss with their newfound success, and makes a stand against its management and label. Bringing forth the ire of The Powers That Be, who dispatch a corporate hit man (MTV’s Carson Daly, playing himself) to do away with Josie and the Pussycats once and for all…
Come what may, there’s a very strong sense those behind this movie are saying things (about our “real world”) many people have wanted to say for a long time. Which means, despite the film’s generally over-the-top nature, Josie often rings with a great deal of resonance and truth.
In this sense, even though it is often over-the-top, simple, and fluffy, Josie and the Pussycats represents a rather bold move by The Powers That Be. Maybe audiences won’t know what to do with it. Or, maybe the gamble will pay-off for them, and audiences will recognize and appreciate that there’s more to this film than is evident at face value – which is more than one can say for many films these days, especially comic-to-film adaptations such as this. Josie and the Pussycats may be soft and cuddly at first look, but it also packs a bit of bite. Reviewed by: Chuck the Movieguy Three girls live their dream when their band gets signed by Mega Records. Based on the characters from Archie comics. A better title would have been Josie and the Product Placements. I have never seen seen such an abuse as this and they try and flip it by turning it into a major plotline. Scott from Movieheadlines who was sitting next to me said if they made a drinking game out of the movie every time they showed a product placement, you would be plastered before the second reel. But there is something even more bizarre about this movie... It was fun. As silly as it was stupid I couldn't help but laugh at the antics of the girls, especially Melody (Reid), the "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands" song had me crying it was so funny. A few inside jokes concerning the comic strip and Carson Daily and the music business make it even more fun. Another bizarre thing... the music is good. I found myself tapping my foot and singing along a couple of times. And the most bizarre thing of all is that I liked the movie. As silly as it was was and I use this term with reservations... cartoon-ish, you can't help laugh. The girls are beautiful, funny, but most of all likeable. Alan Cumming (Floop! from Spykids) makes an excellent Record company weasel and bad guy. Even Parker Posey's over the top cardboard villain Fiona was somehow enjoyable. The bottom line is I had a good time, the movie is fun. Not bad for a couple of girls from Riverdale....
********************************************** Reviewed By: Scott Chitwood
from Movie Headlines This movie was surprisingly funny! From the commercials, I thought this was just going to be yet another teenybopper film. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the humor in the script. The movie starts out with a hilarious parody of boy bands such as N Sync and Backstreet Boys. The band is called Du Jour and is dead on. From the clothes to the moves to the little microphone headsets, it's a great parody. Seth Green adds a fun cameo to them. They are apparently killed at the beginning of the film, but their ultimate fate is revealed by the end and had me really cracking up. All of the Pussycats were great. Cook and Dawson were perfect and really showed a knack for comedy. Tara Reid steals every scene, though, as Melody. Ditzy blonde jokes are always good for a cheap laugh, and they make full use of them here. She also has a fun (if not gratuitous) cameo with her real life fiancée Carson Daly. Alan Cumming plays yet another bad guy, but this one is pretty fun. He's wickedly sarcastic and by the end reveals a deep, dark secret about his past that takes the film over the top, just as they intend to do. Josie and the Pussycats is all about laughs and dumb fun. It's not an intellectual exercise. And while poking fun at pop culture, they never take themselves too seriously. One line in the movie highlights this as one character asks the evil Alexandra what she is doing there. She replies, "Because I was in the comic book." Taking the movie in that spirit, it's a fun ride. So will they go into space in a sequel? :)
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Summary: Purr-fect I got a chance to see a sneak preview of Josie & the Pussycats this past week. I really didn't have many expectations for this film...all I was looking for was a fun movie that wouldn't make me cringe (too much.) Well, without hesitation I can say this movie totally blew me away. It was by far one of the funniest movies I've seen in a LONG time. Sure, it was campy, but it garnered genuine and consistent laughs from the audience. It's been a long time since I've seen a movie with such energy and well-balanced pacing. All three actresses were fantastic as the Pussycats, staying very true to their comic book/tv characters. Rachel Leigh Cook was an excellent choice for Josie...she adds a poignancy to the role that was completely unexpected. As you can imagine, there is the usual romantic subplot, but Cook gives it an honesty and sweetness that saved it from becoming a cliche. Rosario Dawson also did a wonderful job of humanizing Val, portraying her as a strong yet insecure woman. Tara Reid had the hardest part of all. How do you portray a ditzy character so that it doesn't degenerate into a one-note gag? Answer: Make the character endearing. Reid did a wonderful job at making Melody's sappy optimism and absent-mindedness absolutely adorable. In less capable hands, some of the gags would have fallen flat...but they got me smiling, and even laughing. The soundtrack utterly rocks...the last teen movie I can think of with a soundtrack that was so well matched to the visuals was "Clueless." Songs that could have been just filler really added to the overall energy and appeal of the film. The music style was more "hard rock" than the original TV series, but they managed to get the theme song in there somewhere, so I was happy. :) At the screening I went to, people actually danced in the aisles during the end credits...not something I see every day. ^_^ The script is phenomenal, filled with many in-jokes and great timely references. What's most amazing is that Josie & the Pussycats is a movie with something to say, yet it got its message across in a witty and entertaining way while avoiding being too preachy. I can honestly say Josie & The Pussycats is one of the best TV-to-Film adaptations I've ever seen--very enjoyable for fans of the old series, but remaining accessible for those who weren't.
************************************** Full of fun hi-jinks and lots and lots of high energy music.
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS is SPICEWORLD but with -- are you ready for this? -- an actual plot. It's about nothing less than a "conspiracy to brainwash the kids of America with pop music," specifically with subliminal messages. A cute-as-a-button Rachael Leigh Cook (ANTITRUST) plays lead singer Josie McCoy of the Pussycats. Rosario Dawson (HE GOT GAME) and Tara Reid (AMERICAN PIE) play Scary Spice and Baby Spice, oops, I mean Valerie Brown and Melody Valentine, the group's guitarist and drummer. Fiona (Parker Posey), the maniacal manager of MegaRecords, accurately calls the latter two, "Mopey and Dopey." The group is based on a Hanna-Barbera cartoon series from the early 1970s, which was itself based on a 1963 Archie comic book. As the story begins, a boy band, DuJour, is in a descent so rapid that they'll soon vanish, so their manager, Wyatt Frame (Alan Cumming, SPY KIDS) has to locate a new band pronto, or Fiona will have his head on a platter. Once he literally runs into the Pussycats, he decides to make them overnight stars without even bothering to hear them sing. Rocketing to number one in their first week, their fame is like a sudden and unexpected tornado. The movie, written and directed in a collaborative effort by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan, who last gave us the miserable comedy CAN'T HARDLY WAIT, is full of fun hi-jinks and lots and lots of high energy music. The songs are actually sung by Kay Handley of Letters to Cleo, but the three lead actresses sing back-up. The funniest parts of the story are the product placement parodies. Everything in the girls' rooms from the wallpaper to the bedspreads is filled with corporate logos. "We will turn the world into one gigantic TV commercial," Fiona brags. Usually spectacular, Posey delivers a chillingly off-kilter performance as the weird, wacky woman CEO of MegaRecords. With their subliminal messages, MegaRecords is able to turn the opinions of millions of young consumers on a dime, causing them to shell out cash like a broken slot machine. Thinking thoughts like, "orange is the new pink" and "feathers are the new rhinestones," the teens have to go out and buy the latest fashion fad to replace perfectly good items that they already have. Eventually, of course, Josie rebels against being a "trend pimp" for Fiona, and begins to sing songs free of secret messages. Even if the movie isn't exactly unforgettable, the same can't be said for the main song, "3 Small Words," which sticks in your brain like Super Glue. You don't think that there really are some hidden messages in it, do you? Personally, I don't. At any rate, I'm too busy right now to think about it. I've got to buy some new Nikes so I can walk to McDonalds and get a Coca-Cola and a Big Mac. After that there are 17 items of designer clothing at the mall that I just remembered that I absolutely have to buy before sunset. JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS runs 1:35. It is rated PG-13 for language and sensuality and would be acceptable for kids around 7 and up. My son Jeffrey, age 12, gave it ***. He said that it was funny and that he liked Josie and loved the music. He remarked how much the film was like SPICEWORLD. The film opens nationwide in the United States on Wednesday, April 11, 2001. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC and the Century theaters. *******************************************************************
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