Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

A girl group find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy to deliver subliminal messages through popular music in this send up of the music industry and pop culture.

Directors:

Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan

Writers:

Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont,

Stars:

Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson, Tara Reid

5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Josie McCoy
Rosario Dawson	...	Valerie Brown
Tara Reid	...	Melody Valentine
Gabriel Mann	...	Alan M.
Paulo Costanzo	...	Alexander Cabot
Missi Pyle	...	Alexandra Cabot
Alan Cumming	...	Wyatt Frame
Parker Posey	...	Fiona
Tom Butler	...	Agent Kelly
Carson Daly	...	Himself
Aries Spears	...	The Other Carson Daly
Alexander Martin	...	Les (as Alex Martin)
Faedragh Carpenter	...	Teenage Fan
Justin Chatwin	...	Teenage Fan
Marites Pineda	...	Teenage Fan

Storyline

For years, the record industries have inserted subliminal messages into music so that they can turn teenagers into braindead zombies who do nothing but buy, buy, buy. And whenever the musician or band finds out the truth, the record company silences them to keep the truth from coming out. When the hot boy band DuJour discovers this, their manager, Wyatt Frame, under his evil, corrupt boss, Fiona, has the plane they are flying in crashed and him looking for a new band to use for their evil schemes. Enter Josie, the ditzy Melody, and the tough Valerie, from Josie and the Pussycats, a small band who wants to make it to the big top. When they are discovered by Wyatt, they give in and become big rock stars. But will they find out that they are just pawns for the record industry or will fame take them over?

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Plot Keywords:

band | subliminal message | boss | pop culture | music industry | 

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Taglines:

here kitty, kitty, kitty...

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language and sensuality

Details

Official Sites:

Universal

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Josie et les Pussycats

Filming Locations:

41st Avenue at Yew Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£37,662 (UK) (24 August 2001)

Gross:

£37,662 (UK) (24 August 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Riverdale Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Seth Green is one of the members of the boy group Du Jour. He went on to co-create Robot Chicken, which has featured voice work by several other actors in the movie, including Breckin Meyer, Donald Faison, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Rosario Dawson.

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Goofs

When Josie is playing the guitar in her room, if you look in the mirror under the arm that's strumming, you can see Alan M. standing behind her.

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Quotes

[their thoughts]
Josie McCoy: Look at them all staring at us. They think I shouldn't be here. That's totally what they're thinking.
Valerie: Look at them all staring at Josie. They think we shouldn't be here. That's totally what they're thinking.
Melody: [in song] If you're happy and you know it then you really ought to show it. If you're happy and you know it clap your hands!
[clap! clap!]

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Crazy Credits

The MGM lion morphs into a screaming fan.

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Connections

References Lady and the Tramp (1955)

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Soundtracks

"Money (That's What I Want)"
Written by Berry Gordy, Janie Bradford
Produced by Adam Schlesinger
Performed by Josie and the Pussycats

User Reviews

Gets better with time

First of all - this is not a meaningful movie. But it wasn't meant to be. I hate it when I hear critics slam a movie mainly because it doesn't fit into their favorite "Type" of movie. Some movies are made to sit through wincing - leaving you sore emotionally and some are light silly goofball creations that wont change the world, but sure are nice to just zone out with.

This movie will never turn Roger Ebert's crank...its silly and goofy and irrelevant....Its also over time revealing itself to have been at the time...subversive. This movie has a lot of little things about it that are becoming more relevant as the years wear on...

When this first came out I thought "An alright movie with catchy songs" This was before I myself got involved in the Music industry. After living through three bands and two contracts over ten years I would like to say this movie isn't as unrealistic as you may think. It is still a spoof, but close enough to reality to warrant another look. Originally waved away as being pure fluff I now find this movie creepily prophetic.

Since this movie was made we have witnessed the fall out of bands like Back street boys the breakdown of pop-stars like Brittany Spears and a slew of young actors & actresses separated from family & friends whose entire personalities have been written and designed by stylists and are seen battling like some weird "Fashionista" roman gladiators under the tutelage of sycophants and managers.

Media/pop culture, with its out of control emphasis on looks and weight over talent and personality, have resulted in actual government legislation regarding model weights and rampant anorexia amongst young starlets.

Musically there has been a huge increase in management interference (listen to Pink's first album regarding the pressures placed on a young singer to conform to a label's Vision) dictating how the artists shall look and act. If it hadn't been for the internet download revolution of Lime wire and such I think the Music industry would have happily continued to control what consumers were ALLOWED to buy and ALLOWED to see...

This movie was also made prior to the outing of "gay" boy band members Stephen Gately, Lance Bassit, Jordan Knight but the top selling song for the Boy Band "Du Jour" in this movie is the most homo-suggestive song I've ever heard. (Is it really called "In Through Your Back Door"?)

After all this fallout, the world of Josie & the Pussycats seems much less stupid to me.

Again...Not deep, but possibly prophetic...and fun to watch Just don't expect to feel moved. Its popcorn at its best - light and salty, not really a meal...its a snack and as that type of movie...shouldn't't be judged solely for its nutritional value... I'd rate it a 7