Film Snail

5.6

Josie and the Pussycats

PG-13·2001·98m

Comedy

Music

Comedy

Music

Summary

Josie, Melody and Val are three small-town girl musicians determined to take their rock band out of their garage and straight to the top, while remaining true to their look, style and sound. They get a record deal which brings fame and fortune but soon realize they are pawns of two people who want to control the youth of America. They must clear their names, even if it means losing fame and fortune.

Cast

Rachael Leigh Cook

Josie McCoy

Rosario Dawson

Valerie Brown

Tara Reid

Melody Valentine

Alan Cumming

Wyatt Frame

Parker Posey

Fiona

Gabriel Mann

Alan M.

Paulo Costanzo

Alexander Cabot

Missi Pyle

Alexandra Cabot

Alexander Martin

Les - DuJour

Donald Faison

D.J. - DuJour

Seth Green

Travis - DuJour

Breckin Meyer

Marco - DuJour

JR Bourne

Shop Owner

Tom Butler

Agent Kelly

Carson Daly

Aries Spears

The Other Carson Daly

Faedragh Carpenter

Teenage Fan

Justin Chatwin

Teenage Fan

Marites Pineda

Teenage Fan

Kimberly Rimer

Wedding Dress Girl

Corinne Reilly

Aquarium Tour Guide

Marnie Alton

Laughing Girl

Katharine Isabelle

Laughing Girl

Aeja Goldsmith

Laughing Girl

Nicole Fraissinet

Megastore Girl

Jessica Murdoch

Megastore Girl

Juliana Wimbles

Megastore Girl

Zak Santiago

Megastore DJ

David Kopp

College Dude

Sean J. Dory

College Dude

Heather Robertson

Unstylish Girl

Hiro Kanagawa

Japanese Delegate

Kurt Max Runte

German Delegate

Claude de Martino

French Delegate

Colin Foo

Chinese Delegate

Balinder Johal

Sri Lankan Delegate

Enuka Okuma

Fashion Team

Clay St. Thomas

Fashion Team

Erin Fitzgerald

Slang Team

Linda Ko

Slang Team

Serena Altschul

Mark Seliger

Sally Hershberger

Jann Carl

Stuart Lilley

New Josie Fan

Chris Lovick

New Josie Fan

Natalye Vivian

New Josie Fan

Karalee Paterson

Pointing Fan

Dion Johnstone

Federal Agent

Harry Elfont

Pilot

Tamara Taggart

TV Reporter

Anthony Creery

Incompetent Techie

Shayn Solberg

Geek Guy

Harmoni Everett

Josie's Manicurist

Kris Pope

Gregor

Kevin Bergsma

Fiona's Dancer

Todd Talbot

Fiona's Dancer

Craig Taylor

Fiona's Dancer

Paul Becker

Fiona's Dancer

Russ Leatherman

Mr. Moviefone

Kevin Blatch

Gay Rumor Team Member

Darren Daurie

VH1 Photographer

Babyface

The Chief

Eugene Levy

Taryn O'Neill

War Room Analyst

Kennith Overbey

Dancing Policeman

Jen Soska

Josie Fan #1 (uncredited)

Sylvia Soska

Josie Fan #2 (uncredited)

Colette Squires

Photographer

Jay Williams

Fiona's Dancer

Crew

Director, Writer

Deborah Kaplan

Director, Writer

Harry Elfont

Characters

John L. Goldwater

Characters

Dan DeCarlo

Characters

Richard Goldwater

Reviews

Wuchak

December 14, 2018

***Amusing satire on the power & brainwashing of the music industry***

I never saw the original cartoon or read the comics on which it was based, but “Josie and the Pussycats” (2001) is fun and the three protagonists are attractive & enthusiastic (Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid & Rosario Dawson). Yet the movie shoots for something deeper as this is an amusing and potent satire on the influence and manipulation of the entertainment industry.

Alan Cumming is outstanding as the villainous band manager who uses bands, abuses them and throws them away at whim. His opening scene with the fictional boyband Du Jour is worth the price of admission. Parker Posey is also good as his diabolical superior. Curvy and towering Missi Pyle is also on hand as Alexandra.

Ever wonder why all those musicians die in mysterious plane crashes, overdoses, etc. at the height of their fame? How about all those successful government cover-ups? How do artists with little actual talent and songwriting abilities become hugely popular, usually overnight, while the truly talented artists languish in obscurity? Why do you sometimes have this insane drive for a Big Mac or Coke? "Josie and the Pussycats" explains all, lol.

As for those who complain about the product placement, they all live on Aduh Street.

Unfortunately, the great set-up of the first hour sorta peters out in the last act. It’s okay, just not up to the quality of the first two acts, as far as compelling writing goes.

The film runs 98 minutes.

GRADE: B