Roses Have Thoughts

There’s a surprising amount of charm in Josie & The Pussycats. I might have been part of the crowd that dismissed it back when it came out, but it’s a fun blend of bubble-gum pop and a sharp look at consumer culture, highlighting how the music biz takes advantage of young talent. Still, despite its ambition, it doesn’t completely nail the landing.

The story kicks off with Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook), Valerie (Rosario Dawson), and Melody (Tara Reid) getting plucked from obscurity by a sketchy record label offering them fame and fortune. But, of course, there’s a catch. The twist is pretty funny: the label, led by Parker Posey’s hilariously chaotic Fiona, uses hidden messages in their pop songs to persuade teens to buy whatever they’re pushing.

Directors Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont know they’re making something cartoonish, so they fully embrace it with a early 2000s vibe. Everything looks hyper-stylised and over-the-top, including the relentless product placements, which are part of the joke here. The cast leans into the absurdity: Cook has this sweet, earnest charm, Dawson brings a grounded vibe, and Reid shows off some impressive comic timing.

But here’s the catch: while the film makes fun of the music industry, it sometimes feels like it’s just rehashing that same industry. The satire can be a bit broad, some jokes don’t quite land, and once you grasp the core premise, there aren’t a ton of surprises left. It’s definitely fun to watch, but you find yourself wishing it had been a bit sharper and gone deeper.

That said, there’s certainly something to love here. The soundtrack (thanks to Babyface) is catchy, and the film’s bright, candy-coloured look is like a nostalgic snapshot of pre-iPod pop culture.

So, while Josie & The Pussycats might not reach the heights of a true cult classic, it’s far from the flop many claimed it was back in 2001. It’s got its flaws, sure, but it comes with a bold and unapologetic charm that’s hard to ignore.

IMDB