THE HIGH ENERGY STORY ABOUT THREE NEWLY DISCOVERED SMALL-TOWN MUSICIANS WHO GET TANGLED UP IN AN EVIL PLOT TO CONTROL THE YOUTH OF AMERICA. A PSYCHOTIC STUDIO EXECUTIVE IS MANIPULATINGTHE LUCRATIVE TEEN MARKET BY MIXING SU... more »BLIMINAL ADVERTISINGMESSAGES INTO THE MUSIC OF HER BANDS.« less
Timothy B. (bat115) from BAKERSFIELD, CA Reviewed on 8/28/2013...
I remember got savaged upon released and the trailers never did anything for me. It was 10 years later that I decided to give the movie a shot and it was better than it's reputation. It seems others agree with me as I noticed it is being talked about in higher regard than before.
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Arlandra J. from CINCINNATI, OH Reviewed on 8/14/2009...
It was a great movie, I can't fathom why people hate it so much!
Marleen M. from WHEELING, WV Reviewed on 5/3/2009...
very enjoyable story of rockers who want to make it big. it will make you laugh, and make you cry.
1 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Jeff V. (burielofmel) from HARRIMAN, TN Reviewed on 2/22/2008...
Wow. This was actually kind of watchable. I went into it expecting a good laugh at what a bad movie I was sure it would be but it wasn't really all that bad. I laughed, I cried, I got in touch with the music inside me.
3 of 7 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Excellent Satire, Very Intelligent Film
Michael E. Brown | 09/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I never saw Josie and the Pussycats for the longest time--the previews made it look like one of the many teen, self-actualization movies where girls from Small-town, USA, beat the odds and achieve their dreams as rock-stars. Ugh. Oh, but how wrong was I and almost everyone else who chose not to see the film...
This film is a critique on modern music and the way everything has become corporate. But don't let the depth of this film turn you away if you're just looking for something entertaining. This movie has tons of that too. It's perhaps the funniest satire I've seen in years (Alan Cumming is the man), and you will know why this is during the opening scene of the film on the airplane. ("Take the Chevy to the Levy"--brilliant.)
Keep an eye out for all the product placement in the movie, too--the studio received exactly no compensation for them. It's all a part of the bigger joke, which I won't spoil here. (A joke that is RIDICULOUS in the extreme sense of the word, but you'll love the writers for it.)
Acting is great, pacing is excellent, music is awesome, and why are you still reading this review? Click "Add to Cart."
If you still have your doubts, go out and rent this film. (Be sure to get the PG-13 version of the film.) Believe me, though, that there's a really good chance that this will end up on your shelf before long."
Deeply Underated Satire/Romantic Comedy...
Ross Nolan | Dublin, Ireland | 09/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am astonished that this film has been so undeservingly underated. It strikes me that certain people went along with the intention of having an utterly miserable time if they saw anything less brilliant than 'Citizen Kane', then took enormous pleasure in savaging this film when it failed to reach their vast expectations. Frankly if you are so through an elitist in films that the thought of teenage or 20ish characters (God forbid) or their brand of pop culture makes you break out into a hysterical fit of ranting, then you should have known better than to stay away from this.DuJour are an utterly devestating parody of a boyband, and understandably much of the first half-hour is spent in their shadow. Still our introduction to the Pussycats is well done, and easily establishes their current standing. Rachael Leigh Cook, a stunning actress with the largest eyes I have ever seen, is nicely done here. To anyone who would doubt her comedic talent - or lack of interest there in - just watch her eye movements in her first scene with Alan M. Maybe, and I confess I am not an expert, she is different from the cartoon Josie, but by all accounts that is a good thing. In the cartoons I hear she was a nonentity, here she is the core character of the film. While Tara Reid's Melody is perhaps funnier, Josie is still the centre and Rachael Leigh Cook does it well. The other Pussycats have similar good moments, though shorter than Josie's.Alan Cumming simply lights up the screen whenever he appears. While we are required to actually like Josie, Mel and Val (and they are in fact very likeable) Cummings Whyatt Frame is under no such constraints and it is entirely suitable that he is the only character to break the fourth wall. Posey Parker is almost as good as Cumming, but odder yet. She is good fun in the film, though not as purely fantastic as Cumming.The supporting cast are okay. Paulo Costanzo as the Pussycats hopeless manager Alexander Cabot III is the best, but Missi Pyle, Gabriel Mann, Tom Butler and especially Alexander Martin, are all very good.I'm amazed that so many people seem to have either not realised the product placement was part of the films joke, or have realised it, but decide to hold it against them anyway. The gag does become a little cloying after a while, but it does slow down a bit in the final half hour, and is never too distracting. If you found the product placement scene in Waynes World funny, this should cause you no trouble.The music is of course down to personal taste, but I found some of it at least pretty good, and nothing more unmemorable than any other film track. '3 Simple Words' and 'Pretend to be Nice' are viable singles in their own right, and you will never be able to listen to a boyband again after 'Backdoor Lover' and 'DuJour around the World'. Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson do at least provide backing for their own songs, which is something.Overall I would say that this was one of the most underated films of 2001 and the least deserved flop. What kind of sick world is it where 'The Mummy Returns' is more popular than 'Josie...?' Watch it.Yours~Ross"
Surprizingly clever movie
John Cooper | San Antonio, TX USA | 05/03/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I went to this movie expecting nothing more than to watch Rachel Leigh Cook (Josie) and Tara Ried (Mel) dance around on stage in skimpy outfits. Imagine my surprise one of the funniest opening scenes I have ever seen! From the boy band named "Du Jour" (I guarantee my roommate and I were the only 2 people in the entire theatre filled with 13 year old girls who got that joke) and their hit single "Backdoor Lover" to the rediculous product placements and government conspiracy to put subliminal messages and advertisements in our music, thereby controlling trends and keeping teenagers buying the next best thing. Younger viewers who don't necissarily get the humor will enjoy the music and the unbelieveable plotline and love story while older viewers will enjoy the hilarious and almost plausible hyperbole of the conspiracy."
Difference between PG-13 and PG Versions...
JuryDuty | Texas USA | 07/24/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I've seen both versions and here are the differences between the two:The PG-13 version is the theatrical version, widescreen. It contains a bit of language and suggestive dialogue--enough to make it PG-13.The PG version is an "edited" version that was cleaned up enough to make it pass for PG, which is what the original creator wanted. IT IS FULL FRAME. Every site you go to will say it's widescreen, but it's NOT. It is full frame--so be aware of that. Other than that, the extras, DTS and DD5.1 sound, etc, is exactly the same as the original.Most of the edits made in the PG version are stuff you won't notice because they just cut a scene a few seconds early. (For instance, in the PG-13 opening video, Melody is holding a sign that says "Honk if you love Pussycats," but the "cats" is cut off--in the PG version, you don't see this clip in the video at all. They replaced it with something else.) However, there are TWO bits of dialogue where they did voice-overs. Both times it's the bad guys ranting and you can tell their lips move differently from the "cleaner" dialogue that's inserted. It's just like watching a cleaned-up movie on TV in those two small parts.I should also add that the ONLY place I could find online that had the PG version is Amazon. For both the PG and PG-13 version, they show the same picture, BUT instead of the purple "Widescreen" bar at the top, the PG version ACTUALLY has a pink band at the top that says "This Film Edited for Family Viewing." On the back it says 1.33:1 Full Frame.Personally, I own the PG version because I have some very young ones watching it--and the language is totally out of place in this film. But it's a sacrifice since you lose the widescreen."
This is a great flick - much better than expected
TattooLore | Midwest | 09/24/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I avoided this movie for a long time, being that it just looked horrible. Then, one boring night it came on cable, and since I had watched everything else already, I gave it a look...And I laughed my arse off! It totally makes fun of the target audience it was made to entertain. I mean, don't go looking for an award winning movie here (not artsy-fartsy), but it's stupid fun and is worth a damn good laugh or two. I'm not big on dumb humor movies, but this has just enough twist (and clever twists) to keep me laughing. I was VERY surprised to have enjoyed this movie as much as I did. Perhaps there IS something to subliminal messages in movies?"