A valley girl and a punk rocker from the city defy
their parents and friends to stay together.
Director: Rachel Lee Goldenberg
Cast: Jessica Rothe, Josh Whitehouse, Mae Whitman, Judy Greer
Release Date: May 8, 2020
Genres: Comedy, Musical, Romance
Rated PG-13 for teen partying, language, some suggestive material, and
brief nudity
Runtime: 1h 42min
Review:
The Valley Girl remake, much like the Hairspray remake before it, takes
a beloved 80s cult classic and sprays a fresh coat of gloss and glitter to
deliver a fizzy and nostalgic candy coated pill. Rachel Lee Goldenberg is respectful of the
original but it’d be fair to call it more of a spiritual remake than a straight
up remake. The original captured a
specific moment in time and Nic Cage’s first real introduction to the world
with all his general weirdness on full display.
This remake drops all that and goes super colorful with rose colored
glasses of nostalgia. A new framing
sequence explains the jukebox musical element early on letting the filmmaker go
all in with their conceit. The musical
sequences are all well choreographed with one near the middle truly shining
with three separate 80s jams going back and forth. Jessica Rothe sits firmly at the center of
this film and she’s always the most interesting person on screen. She just has an innate magnetism that shines
through every sequence much like her work in Happy Death Day. Rothe drives the film and makes a solid on
screen couple with Josh Whitehouse who looks like a tall Great Value Robert
Pattinson. He’s charming and charismatic
enough to work for this film but those yearning for Nic Cage’s take will be
disappointed. Mae Whitman gives a nice
supporting turn even if her character is both superfluous and underused. Ultimately, if you love the original you’ll
probably enjoy this one since it’s different enough to enjoy on its own. On its own accord it’s a fun little film
that’s got the caloric value of a donut.
B
