Josie And The Pussycats (2001)
		Genre: Comedy/Musical Directors: Deborah Kaplan & Harry Elfont Rating: PG-13 Running Time: 98 Minutes Release Date: April 11, 2001 Official Website: http://www.josiethemovie.com Movie Trailer: View it now! Discuss and vote: Go to Forums	Cast: Rachael Leigh Cook Tara Reid Rosario Dawson Alan Cumming Parker Posey Gabriel Mann Paulo Costanzo Missi Pyle

Pickup Line: Frisky Feline Fun!

Quickie: Josie and the Pussycats step out of the comic books into the big screen to sign a recording contract with major recording label that is involved in a nasty scheme.

The Long Review:

Okay. When you first think of a film adaptation of a comic book all-girl band that dons pussycat ears and pussycat tails, you're anxious, to say the least. You expect the worst. Or you pay heed to Roger Ebert's nasty words: Josie and the Pussycats are not dumber than the Spice Girls, but they're as dumb as the Spice Girls, which is dumb enough."

But surprisingly enough, "Josie and the Pussycats" the movie is quite the tickling surprise. It's cute. It's entertaining. It's naughty. It's funny. Starring Rachael Leigh Cook as Josie, Tara Reid as Melody, and Rosario Dawson as Valerie, this movie sees the meowing band sign a recording contract with the music label of all music labels, Mega Records, which also happens to run a sophisticated underground operation. So off the Pussycats go to have a taste of fame, shady management, and crime.

Okay, so the concept is corny, the plot simplistic and fantastical, the acting so-so, the scenes cheesy. It's not exactly a mental exercise to watch this film. But you know what? It's fun. And it has a catchy soundtrack that features Rachael Leigh Cook's actual vocal stylings. Cool, huh? Also particularly delightful is Tara Reid as the typical dumb blonde, Melody. She plays her part so well, it's creepy. It really makes you wonder or not she's acting at all. Oh, heck. We're sure it's pure acting. After all, would Carson Daly get involved with a bimbo? Okay. Forget we asked that. Rachael Leigh Cook is alright, we guess. She's not great or anything; but she does get props for attempting to embody the whole rock star persona. "Frankly, her face irritates me." -Guru Mumu And then there's Rosario Dawson. The best way to describe her performance is "flat." She just doesn't show the pizzazz and cutting-edge attitude the Valerie we know and love exude. Oh, well. We'll forgive. Like we said, it's fun.

"Josie and the Pussycats" is a movie that makes fun of itself. And when you're watching a movie that obviously isn't taking itself seriously, it takes some major effort not to be amused. This is exactly what "Josie and the Pussycats" does. From a character referring to herself as a comic book figure to an allusion to Tara Reid's very public relationship with Carson Daly (who makes a cameo in the film), from mocking boy bands to satirizing celebrities, this movie basically pulls all the stops. People in the audience were guffawing at regular intervals, a slight indication that they appreciated the quirky albeit simplistic humour.

Other aspects of the movie that deserve some notice are the costume design and set design. The band's outfits, adapted for the new millennium, effectively reflect the personality of each member. We also wouldn't be surprised if it suddenly becomes cool to wear pussycat ears and leopard tails; we know how these trends start. Pussycat ears are the new tiaras!! Um…you'll see where we're getting at when you watch the movie. As for the set design, the best way to describe it is "detailed." A lot of effort was put into making the surroundings, such as the band members' hotel rooms, funky and authentic. The scenery matches the whole concept of the movie really well.

"Josie and the Pussycats" is a good movie to see if you're in the mood for some harmless, clean, innocent fun. And if you're not in the mood to think too much…or at all, for that matter. It's a film that features warm moments, juvenile humour, and several thousand wardrobe changes. It's light. It's charming. It's entertainment. Go see it and lose yourself in the fantasy for 98 minutes.

In Two Minutes:

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Did you know?

• Rachael Leigh Cook and company had to learn some vocal techniques, as well as how to play their respective instruments (or at least how to look good while pretending to know how to play them) to make this flick. Wow. So much effort for a movie most people will dismiss as useless fluff. Sigh.
• Tara Reid is engaged to MTV TRL's Carson Daly, who was dumped by Jennifer Love Hewitt right before Tara came along to pick up the leftovers…er…pieces.
• Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds is one of the producers behind the original music in this movie. He also makes a cameo in the film. He's one busy guy!!
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