Pussycat Hats

When I realized that I had let Josie and the Pussycats (2001) float to the top of the queue, I was worried. Ms. Spenser asked me why I hated her so much. Then, the amazing happened: It turned out to be great.

It starts with the boy band Du Jour getting on their sponsored private jet with manager Alan Cummings. Although Du Jour (including member Seth Green) are idiots, they have noticed something odd about their recordings. Cummings promises to explain after he talks to the pilot. He goes up front and tells the pilot to “take the Chevy to the levee”, and they bail out, leaving the plane to crash. Now he needs another (disposable) band. Next stop, Riverdale, home of Josie and the Pussycats.

Josie is Rachel Leigh Cook, songwriter and lead singer. Rosario Dawson, in her first big role, plays bass. Tara Reid is on drums as Melody, a lovable ditz. She’s kind of a mixture of Peter Tork and Goldie Hawn. She is also about the only thing I remember from the comics - pretty sure I never saw the cartoon.

To get this out of the way first, the Pussycats have a great sound. It’s got a great Joan Jett/Runaways feel, maybe softened just a bit. They even have a “Cherry Bomb” song: “Teenaged Prom Queen”. So I would rate the music as “good”.

Other characters include Gabriel Mann as Alan M., folk singer and maybe boyfriend to Josie. Paulo Costanzo plays the Pussycats snobby and dim manager, and Missi Pyle lays his twin sister, who says she is only in the movie because she was in the comic. Parker Posey plays the head of the record label who is using the disposable bands to sell stuff to kids. They are all really good.

So, interesting plot, strong cast, good music, and the jokes tend to work. Kind of like the Spice Girls movie (which is probably an influence), an unexpected hit.