(1983)
4
Andrea LeVasseur
A textbook example of an early-'80s teenage romantic comedy, Valley Girl is watchable as a time capsule to 1983 and as perhaps the best representation of the pop culture phenomenon of valley girls. However appealing this particular California attitude is for kitsch value, the language of most of the characters could tend toward annoyance. Fortunately, the titular lead character Julie (Deborah Foreman) is struggling, however superficially, with her valley identity. Unlike her unbearably snobby friends, Julie has an open mind and a good-natured smile, which leads her into the arms of the Hollywood mainstream "punk" Randy (Nicolas Cage). The two share plenty of onscreen chemistry to make the romance work, including a courtship montage that lasts the entire duration of "I Melt With You" by Modern English. Indeed, the music is an integral element, with Men at Work, Psychedelic Furs, and Bananarama appearing on the two volumes of soundtracks that were released almost ten years after the movie's theatrical release. Josie Cotton and the Plimsouls also make appearances on-stage during some key scenes. Not as richly characterized as Pretty in Pink or other John Hughes genre films, Valley Girl doesn't strive far beyond the high school romance conventions, complete with a finale at the prom. Especially humorous are Julie's campy '60s parents, played by Frederic Forrest and Colleen Camp. For teen flick aficionados and early-'80s new wave and bubblegum pop lovers, Valley Girl is a classic.
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Valley Girl (1983)
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Valley Girl
MGM
More
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August 5, 2003 |
