Review of Josie and the Pussycats (2001) by Michael A — 26 May 2010

An oft-forgotten and overlooked gem that was dismissed out-of-hand by most "serious" viewers, JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS is several wonderful things rolled into one.

Let's tally up what we have here. a slyly subversive attack on product placement that never stops wallpapering us with corporate logos. a time capsule that accurately locates pop culture, consumerism, and the intersection of the two at the turn of the millennium. a faithful adaptation of the source material, with just the right amount of references to satisfy even the hardest-core of ARCHIE nerds. but most importantly, a scathing examination of the quest for acceptance - the eerie and irrepressible desire to fit in - and the way in which it colours that most precious 12-18 year-old "youth" demographic.

Early on in the film, we hear what seems to be an almost throwaway reference to don mclean's "american pie" - a song that famously lamented the so-called "day the music died", but also called into question the rise of the "teenager", and the place of this new social class in american society. in its final scene, JatP turns what has so far been its primary storyline - that of an insidious and multi-tiered conspiracy to brainwash the world's teenagers into mindless spending machines - on its head. we see that subliminal messages aren't even necessary to create a mob mentality in which empty vessels endlessly try to buy an identity that they'll feel comfortable in. previous generations of idiots have already built this house and furnished it nicely; future generations will live in it until the well runs dry and the soil turns barren, blissfully unaware that even the illusion of escape is itself just another opportunity for someone else to make money.

Truly brilliant stuff. I almost can't believe this movie was allowed to be released.