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Showing posts with label Rachel Lee Goldenberg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rachel Lee Goldenberg. Show all posts

Saturday, May 9, 2020

MOVIE REVIEW: VALLEY GIRL








































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. 


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