Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Directors:

Harry Elfont
Deborah Kaplan

Writers (WGA):

Deborah Kaplan (written by) &
Harry Elfont (written by) ...

Release Date:

11 April 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

here kitty, kitty, kitty...

Plot:

Satire poking fun at the pop music industry, focusing on the twenty-something members of an 80's-ish rock group and their managers.

Plot Keywords:

Band | Manager | Rock Star | Subliminal Message | Music Industry

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Josie McCoy
Tara Reid	...	Melody Valentine
Rosario Dawson	...	Valerie Brown
Alan Cumming	...	Wyatt Frame
Parker Posey	...	Fiona
Gabriel Mann	...	Alan M.
Paulo Costanzo	...	Alexander Cabot
Missi Pyle	...	Alexandra Cabot
Tom Butler	...	Agent Kelly
Alexander Martin	...	Les - Du Jour (as Alex Martin)
Faedragh Carpenter	...	Teenage Fan
Justin Chatwin	...	Teenage Fan
Marites Pineda	...	Teenage Fan
Kimberly Rimer	...	Wedding Dress Girl
Corinne Reilly	...	Aquarium Tour Guide

Also Known As:

Josie et les Pussycats (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for sensuality and language. (director's cut)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-11 (2001) (video rating) | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) | Australia:PG | Germany:6 | Netherlands:AL | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | USA:PG (cut) (certificate #37890) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

41st Avenue at Yew Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

During the TRL scene, the cardboard cut-outs in the "audience" feature Johnny Depp (2), Gwen Stefani (2), Christina Aguilera (2), Britney Spears, and Matt Damon. Melody defends herself with Britney and Christina, but Carson Daly hits the cut-outs with a baseball bat. Melody eventually clubs Carson with the Matt Damon cut-out and knocks him off the bleachers.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: After introducing everyone in the beginning there is a scene in the kitchen, Alexandra is seen in the background holding Dujour tickets but between takes the tickets re-appear and disappear again.

Quotes:

Josie McCoy: Jerkin! Tretorns are the new Adidas!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fear of Clowns (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Love Will Keep Us Together

Gets better with time

First of all - this is not a meaningful movie. But it wasn't meant to be. I hate it when I hear critics slam a movie mainly because it doesn't fit into their favorite "Type" of movie. Some movies are made to sit through wincing - leaving you sore emotionally and some are light silly goofball creations that wont change the world, but sure are nice to just zone out with.

This movie will never turn Roger Ebert's crank...its silly and goofy and irrelevant....Its also over time revealing itself to have been at the time...subversive. This movie has a lot of little things about it that are becoming more relevant as the years wear on...

When this first came out I thought "An alright movie with catchy songs" This was before I myself got involved in the Music industry. After living through three bands and two contracts over ten years I would like to say this movie isn't as unrealistic as you may think. It is still a spoof, but close enough to reality to warrant another look. Originally waved away as being pure fluff I now find this movie creepily prophetic.

Since this movie was made we have witnessed the fall out of bands like Back street boys the breakdown of pop-stars like Brittany Spears and a slew of young actors & actresses separated from family & friends whose entire personalities have been written and designed by stylists and are seen battling like some weird "Fashionista" roman gladiators under the tutelage of sycophants and managers.

Media/pop culture, with its out of control emphasis on looks and weight over talent and personality, have resulted in actual government legislation regarding model weights and rampant anorexia amongst young starlets.

Musically there has been a huge increase in management interference (listen to Pink's first album regarding the pressures placed on a young singer to conform to a label's Vision) dictating how the artists shall look and act. If it hadn't been for the internet download revolution of Lime wire and such I think the Music industry would have happily continued to control what consumers were ALLOWED to buy and ALLOWED to see...

This movie was also made prior to the outing of "gay" boy band members Stephen Gately, Lance Bassit, Jordan Knight but the top selling song for the Boy Band "Du Jour" in this movie is the most homo-suggestive song I've ever heard. (Is it really called "In Through Your Back Door"?)

After all this fallout, the world of Josie & the Pussycats seems much less stupid to me.

Again...Not deep, but possibly prophetic...and fun to watch Just don't expect to feel moved. Its popcorn at its best - light and salty, not really a meal...its a snack and as that type of movie...shouldn't't be judged solely for its nutritional value... I'd rate it a 7